Building a business that grows steadily in size and profits is like building your dream house.
First, you identify what kind of home you want, then you and your architect plan and create blueprints for your house, then you build it, move in and enjoy it.
Now imagine that you didn’t have the time to plan your home but went ahead and hired a builder to get started. How would he or she know what to build?
Without a plan, the result could easily be a post-colonial, modern, victorian mish-mash that would make a trailer home look stylish in comparison. Most likely it wouldn’t meet your needs and you’d have wasted a lot of time and money.
Everyday I get calls from frustrated business owners like you. Their marketing isn’t helping them generate the steady stream of new clients they want so badly. It’s just not bringing in the revenue that they think they should be making.
My conversation with Ken, from Toronto, was typical. I asked Ken to describe his business and his business goals. I asked him to tell me about his target market and what he is doing attract new clients.
He easily described his technological and design expertise, his Web services and the ads and mailings he was using to promote his business. Then I asked the question that stumps almost everyone who calls me for advice: I asked Ken if he had a marketing plan and what it was. He didn’t have one.
Do you?
You know what your goals are and where you want to take your business. You also know that marketing involves activities such as a website, mailings, advertising and phone calls to prospects. But without a plan tying these efforts together, these activities by themselves may do little to help you achieve your goals.
You need a well thought out blueprint for your marketing, just as you would for your dream home. Here’s how to start putting it together.
1. Identify Your Marketing GoalsWhat specifically does your marketing need to achiee for your business to grow? You can state this in terms of the number of qualified leads generated each week, the percentage of leads converted to sales, total revenue, and profit.
What are your marketing goals?
2. Define Your Marketing Strategy
This is your overall approach and positioning relative to your goals and your competition. My marketing strategy is an educational one. It is based on giving people ideas and information they can use as a means of getting their attention and demonstrating the value I provide.
What is your small business marketing strategy?
3. Set Up Your Marketing System
Develop a plan of action. To increase sales, your marketing activities and the media you use need to reflect your marketing strategy and work together as one.
What is your marketing system?
4. Map Out Your Marketing Activities
Now flesh out the details. You’ve decided what your marketing activities will be; now for each marketing activity you’ll need to determine who will create and implement it and when.
Who will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining your marketing?
5. Sharpen Your Marketing Tools
Each marketing activity involves using one or more marketing tools. These include everything from your web site to your phone scripts to your marketing messages. To cut through the information clutter and get your prospect’s attention you’ll want finely honed tools.
Could you sharpen your marketing tools?
Sound intimidating? It’s not when you have help.
As a member of my Insider’s Club I’ll guide you through the marketing maze. You’ll discover how to create a blueprint for success.
You’ll get access to a treasure trove of proven and practical wealth building ideas.
What’s your plan? You know you could be doing better. You don’t have to miss out.
Remember people who have a plan and take action achieve success while those who sit on the fence wear out the seat of their pants while watching the winners cross the finish line.
Be a winner! Join the ByTrade.com
First, you identify what kind of home you want, then you and your architect plan and create blueprints for your house, then you build it, move in and enjoy it.
Now imagine that you didn’t have the time to plan your home but went ahead and hired a builder to get started. How would he or she know what to build?
Without a plan, the result could easily be a post-colonial, modern, victorian mish-mash that would make a trailer home look stylish in comparison. Most likely it wouldn’t meet your needs and you’d have wasted a lot of time and money.
Everyday I get calls from frustrated business owners like you. Their marketing isn’t helping them generate the steady stream of new clients they want so badly. It’s just not bringing in the revenue that they think they should be making.
My conversation with Ken, from Toronto, was typical. I asked Ken to describe his business and his business goals. I asked him to tell me about his target market and what he is doing attract new clients.
He easily described his technological and design expertise, his Web services and the ads and mailings he was using to promote his business. Then I asked the question that stumps almost everyone who calls me for advice: I asked Ken if he had a marketing plan and what it was. He didn’t have one.
Do you?
You know what your goals are and where you want to take your business. You also know that marketing involves activities such as a website, mailings, advertising and phone calls to prospects. But without a plan tying these efforts together, these activities by themselves may do little to help you achieve your goals.
You need a well thought out blueprint for your marketing, just as you would for your dream home. Here’s how to start putting it together.
1. Identify Your Marketing GoalsWhat specifically does your marketing need to achiee for your business to grow? You can state this in terms of the number of qualified leads generated each week, the percentage of leads converted to sales, total revenue, and profit.
What are your marketing goals?
2. Define Your Marketing Strategy
This is your overall approach and positioning relative to your goals and your competition. My marketing strategy is an educational one. It is based on giving people ideas and information they can use as a means of getting their attention and demonstrating the value I provide.
What is your small business marketing strategy?
3. Set Up Your Marketing System
Develop a plan of action. To increase sales, your marketing activities and the media you use need to reflect your marketing strategy and work together as one.
What is your marketing system?
4. Map Out Your Marketing Activities
Now flesh out the details. You’ve decided what your marketing activities will be; now for each marketing activity you’ll need to determine who will create and implement it and when.
Who will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining your marketing?
5. Sharpen Your Marketing Tools
Each marketing activity involves using one or more marketing tools. These include everything from your web site to your phone scripts to your marketing messages. To cut through the information clutter and get your prospect’s attention you’ll want finely honed tools.
Could you sharpen your marketing tools?
Sound intimidating? It’s not when you have help.
As a member of my Insider’s Club I’ll guide you through the marketing maze. You’ll discover how to create a blueprint for success.
You’ll get access to a treasure trove of proven and practical wealth building ideas.
What’s your plan? You know you could be doing better. You don’t have to miss out.
Remember people who have a plan and take action achieve success while those who sit on the fence wear out the seat of their pants while watching the winners cross the finish line.
Be a winner! Join the ByTrade.com
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