Marketing is a process, not a task. Forgetting this will cause you to waste more money on marketing than any ill-conceived media plan. It will be wasteful by neglect.
Consider this: you'd like to lose a few pounds, get in shape. Do you a) work out (really, really hard) one time and wait for the results to follow; b) work out for an entire week, hoping the pounds will burn off; or c) commit to doing physical activity at least 3 times per week over the course of several weeks?
If you simply want to check "lose weight" off of your To Do list, you might choose options a or b. If you really want to lose weight you'll choose option c. You didn't gain those extra pounds all at once, you won't lose them all at once either.
"But I don't have time! My business overwhelms me!"
There are several books, blogs, and articles on time management within a small business to help you overcome the time challenge. Many are wonderful and I'll leave you to them. But the simple truth is this: people rarely "find" the time to do anything they aren't comfortable doing - they have to make the time.
Schedule time for marketing in the same way you schedule inventory, ordering, payroll, and scheduling. Spend time on your business instead of in your business. Plan your efforts, prepare for your time by organizing your materials, and stick to your schedule as you would if you had an appointment with a client. It's that important.
Once you commit the time, prepare materials, and plan your attack, the only obstacle left is to overcome your reluctance. As Nike says "Just Do It."
Posts
1 comment:
I always look forward to Bryan's insight and new way of thinking. I check this blog every week to see that I'm not alone in the challenges of local store marketing...and to learn the solutions to those challenges.
Post a Comment