| ign="center"> | | | | instead of all the other products or services |
| What?!? Sabotage your own success? Who would | | | | available to them. |
| do that? Well, you'd be surprised how many small | | | | If you have not figured out what is unique and |
| business owners think they are effectively | | | | better about your product or service, and found a |
| marketing their business, when in fact they are | | | | compelling way to communicate this in everything |
| cutting their own throat. | | | | you do, you can market 'til the cows come home |
| Yes, they may be running ads that are pulling in | | | | and you will be wasting your time and your |
| leads or customers. And yes, they may be writing | | | | money |
| a regular column for their local newspaper so they | | | | 10 Tips to Banish Marketing Sabotage |
| are perceived as the expert in their industry. And | | | | (1) Develop a marketing plan. Make sure you |
| yes, they may even be doing a pretty good job | | | | make it your number one priority to develop a |
| of marketing on a regular basis to their prospect | | | | marketing plan every year. |
| list. | | | | (2) Write objectives. Write at least one objective |
| So if they are doing all of these things "right," how | | | | that states what results you would like to achieve |
| are they sabotaging their success? Well there are | | | | with your business over the next year. And, write |
| lots of ways. Following are just a few of the | | | | at least one objective for every marketing |
| ways small business owners unknowingly | | | | activity you undertake, that states what results |
| sabotage their own success. | | | | you would like to achieve from that activity over |
| (1) They have not taken the time to develop a | | | | the next year. |
| marketing plan. | | | | (3) Stay the course. Check in on your progress |
| A plan focuses your efforts and allows you to | | | | toward your objectives every three to six |
| make the most of your marketing budget. | | | | months, but give your plan a good nine to 12 |
| Unfortunately, you can market without a plan. | | | | months to work. |
| Yes, you read that right. You can do it, and | | | | (4) Determine your unique selling proposition and |
| people do market without marketing plans | | | | make sure it is represented clearly and in a |
| everyday. | | | | compelling way in everything you do. |
| But that does not mean you should. To make the | | | | (5) Don't try to be "everything to everyone." |
| most of your marketing efforts and budget, | | | | Focus on a few specific benefits and a specific |
| make sure you take the time each year to | | | | audience. |
| create a plan. | | | | (6) Track all of your marketing activities so you |
| (2) They donât have written goals | | | | know exactly what is working and what is not |
| Smart business owners have written goals and | | | | working. |
| objectives for what they want to achieve with | | | | (7) Don't rely on one marketing activity. Employ a |
| their business and for each of their marketing | | | | mix of several marketing activities to reach more |
| activities. I know this sounds b-o-r-i-n-g, but it's a | | | | people more times. |
| fact. | | | | (8) Create a system to help you stay on track |
| There is proof that people who put their goals | | | | with your marketing activities every month and |
| into writing have a higher success rate than those | | | | to help you plan ahead for future activities. |
| who do not. Plus, how can you develop a plan if | | | | (9) Create a realistic budget based on a |
| you don't have concrete objectives? You need a | | | | percentage of your projected revenue, or the |
| clear vision and target to aim for. You can't | | | | dollars you have available for marketing and stick |
| possibly determine what marketing or how much | | | | to it. Marketing is an investment in your business. |
| marketing you need if you don't know what you | | | | You have to spend enough to make progress but |
| are aiming for. | | | | not more than your business can financially |
| (3) They have a short-term attitude. | | | | support. |
| They are reactive in nature, and while on the | | | | (10) Understand your environment. The economy, |
| surface it appears they are doing a lot of | | | | competition, the strength of your particular |
| marketing, they are not doing anything | | | | industry, your prospects' situation. You have to |
| consistently or long enough to make an impact. | | | | understand them all so you can create an |
| Running an ad or sending out your newsletter a | | | | effective plan to either overcome obstacles or |
| few times and giving up when you don't get | | | | take advantage of opportunities. |
| immediate results is worse than doing nothing at | | | | Follow these guidelines and your business stands a |
| all. | | | | much greater chance of succeeding. All of these |
| How so? Because at least when you do nothing it | | | | activities are part of a good marketing plan. And |
| doesn't cost you any money. Pulling the plug too | | | | no business that wants to succeed should be |
| soon costs you money. And statistics show it | | | | without one. |
| takes somewhere between three and 10 | | | | Report this article |
| exposures to a message for the average | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| consumer to notice it and take action. So it is | | | | Source: |
| quite possible your audience was just beginning to | | | | Republish this article |
| take notice right about the time you threw in the | | | | |
| towel! | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| (4) They don't know their USP. | | | | >> Recommende frequency of uploading |
| Probably the worst way business owners | | | | fresh content to a website |
| sabotage their marketing efforts without even | | | | >> What is web site for laura's fashion |
| realizing it, is to NOT have a clear Unique Selling | | | | apparel key largo fl ? |
| Proposition (USP). | | | | >> Can you really make a full-time income |
| The greatest marketing plan in the world will not | | | | on ClickBank? |
| be effective if you have not clearly defined why | | | | >> Republishing content from article |
| someone should buy your product or service | | | | directories? |