I'm a small business, and while I have gratefully passed that magical one-year mark, I am still a start-up in many ways. Each day, I function as the CEO, the administrative assistant, the worker bee, the janitor, the CFO and the dog sitter (don't ask). Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE being in business for myself and it is crazy fun to work with other small business owners and help them grow their own businesses. I finally feel like what I am doing really matters - my work really is my mission.
So when I work with other business owners, I have a very good idea of the restraints they have not just financially, but with their time, attention and priorities. It is a gift to me that I can help them sort through their marketing priorities and put together a plan that won't cost them an arm and a leg.
I see so many business owners who are, frankly, at a loss about how to do their marketing. One sales person told them they should be buying newspaper ads, another sold them on the magic of online marketing. Their best friend told them to go on TV and their kids are pushing them to get involved with social media. But the truth is, they are so busy running their business, that they don't have much time to consider these options let alone learn about each one.
That's where I get to come in. When I work with a new client, the first thing we do is sit down and figure out what their goals are. Because what you are trying to accomplish will drive the steps you take to get there. After all, you wouldn't take a bus if you are trying to get from New York to London, would you? So why would you buy newspaper ads if you are trying to reach teenagers?
The old adage of "the medium is the message" is still true, and helping clients understand which medium to trust their message to is just part of what I do. Helping them see how extraordinary service is their best marketing tool sounds easy, but often business people don't see that connection, even though they understand that word-of-mouth is their best marketing tool. Unfortunately, TV is sexier and social media is the hottest thing right now and it can easily drown out the usefulness of the basics: good product, good service, good price at the right time, the right place, for the right person.
So when I work with other business owners, I have a very good idea of the restraints they have not just financially, but with their time, attention and priorities. It is a gift to me that I can help them sort through their marketing priorities and put together a plan that won't cost them an arm and a leg.
I see so many business owners who are, frankly, at a loss about how to do their marketing. One sales person told them they should be buying newspaper ads, another sold them on the magic of online marketing. Their best friend told them to go on TV and their kids are pushing them to get involved with social media. But the truth is, they are so busy running their business, that they don't have much time to consider these options let alone learn about each one.
That's where I get to come in. When I work with a new client, the first thing we do is sit down and figure out what their goals are. Because what you are trying to accomplish will drive the steps you take to get there. After all, you wouldn't take a bus if you are trying to get from New York to London, would you? So why would you buy newspaper ads if you are trying to reach teenagers?
The old adage of "the medium is the message" is still true, and helping clients understand which medium to trust their message to is just part of what I do. Helping them see how extraordinary service is their best marketing tool sounds easy, but often business people don't see that connection, even though they understand that word-of-mouth is their best marketing tool. Unfortunately, TV is sexier and social media is the hottest thing right now and it can easily drown out the usefulness of the basics: good product, good service, good price at the right time, the right place, for the right person.
