|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You want to be more flexible? You have to stretch your muscles. Want to be physically stronger? You have to find a way to workout and build your muscles. Want to be a stronger marketer? You've got to work your marketing muscles.
Just as an athlete needs to workout to stay in shape, if you want to get stronger at marketing, you need to work your marketing muscles. So how do you work marketing muscles?
1. Read Regularly. There is no shortage of resources out there folks. Find them and begin consuming them. There are books and newsletters and resources all over the web. Don't get overwhelmed by the volume of resources available. Pick one and commit to consuming it. Schedule a time that works for you and sit down and read that resource. Even if you only find one or two good ideas, doesn't that make you a little bit stronger?
2. Find Avenues To Write. Writing might be the single most important skill for effective marketing. "But I'm not a good writer" you say. Listen, you are a wealth of information about your business or industry, and writing is the key to sharing that information to attract business. Writing will also help you gain clarity about the value of your own services.
Practice writing regularly. Articles, tip sheets, your web site content, newsletters, sales letters, and case studies are all examples of things to be writing. Do the best you can and consider an editor or copywriter to review it if you're worried about it being great. You'll get better, and stronger, with practice.
3. Increase Your Speaking Ability. Much like writing, speaking is one of the most powerful tools for developing attention, interest, trust and credibility with your potential audience. This is not just standing up in front of an audience to give a presentation, seminar, or workshop, although these are great strategies. You've also got to be prepared to stand up and introduce yourself at networking meetings. Or more basically, you have to be prepared to answer that question, "What do you do?"
Confidence in speaking comes with preparedness and practice. Ever been to a networking meeting when someone stands up for their introduction and starts out with, "Um, Ok, let's see?"? Clearly not practiced and prepared. Spend time preparing for what you want to say when you introduce yourself and when someone ask, "What do you do?"
Just like exercise, even scheduling just a few hours a week to work your marketing muscles will begin to make a difference. Before you know it, you might be a pretty strong marketer.
(c) - Kevin Dervin, KPD Marketing
About the Author:
Kevin Dervin is focused on helping small businesses that are ready to grow, but struggle with how to consistently attract more clients. Visit http://www.proven-small-business-mar keting-solutions.com for more great marketing information you can put to use in growing your business today.
Find Kevin's Kansas City based KPD Marketing practice at http://www.ABCDgrowth.com and subscribe to his free ezine called ABCD Grow.
Wind Chimes and more... Many sales problems can be solved by improved marketing. Selling... Read More An important part of planning your business is to know... Read More "What do you do?""I'm a CPA. What do you do?""I'm... Read More "Get your positioning and your programs implemented properly, and the... Read More Everywhere you go on the Internet you find the words,... Read More One of the hardest jobs in fundraising is crafting original... Read More With direct mail, you can break even and still claim... Read More If ever there was a lazy way to easy profits... Read More Marketing message x Credibility x Visibility = Marketing SuccessThese three... Read More Parents are always looking for free and easy ways to... Read More I don't mean you, I mean the YOU that is... Read More The Marketing Plan section of the business plan demonstrates how... Read More Web Presence gives your business a distince edge over your... Read More Over the last few years the buzz about CRM (Customer... Read More Guerrilla Marketing is using time, energy and imagination to market... Read More RESOLVING THE "PROPRIETARY" DILEMMA... SHOULD YOU RENT YOUR OWN MAILING... Read More How many times has your competitor gotten one over on... Read More A new client recently emailed us a brief here at... Read More Some of the simplest marketing tactics often produce the most... Read More Here is your C.I.T.T. (pronounced "kit")[Color ? Illustrate? Type ?... Read More It was the fall of 1998 when I had just... Read More If you pick up a copy of the November 2003... Read More Have you started thinking about your Valentines Day Promotion yet?It... Read More Do you have an elevator speech? Does it get people's... Read More I just spent a week at the beach with my... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
Your Company Need More Marketing? Or Just Better Marketing?
Who Is Your Market and Where Are They?
Practice Marketing: How to Answer What Do You Do? to Increase Prospects, Publicity and Profits
Marketing And Patience
Ready, Aim, Fire...Oops...Wheres The Target?
51 Ways to Say Thank-you in a Fundraising Letter for a Non-for-Profit (Includes Examples & Samples)
Break Even On Your Next Direct Mail Campaign...And Still Generate Huge Profits
The Illusion of Print Mail Services
Marketing Success - Marketing Strategy - Brand Identity Guru
Free and Easy School Fundraisers | Elementary and High School Fund Raising Ideas
The YOU Factor
The Marketing Plan and the Four P?s
Why Your Business Need a Website
Is CRM Technology Living Up To the Hype?
Guerrilla Marketing in Action
Renting Your Mailing Lists to Others
3 High-Impact Fixes For Your Marketing Woes
How to Brief a Marketing Agency
4 Dynamic Marketing Tactics
Take the Logo Litmus Test
The Day I Learned to Start Saying No
Why You Dont NEED a Marketing Plan
Marketing ? Like a Game of Chess
Your Elevator Speech ? Have You Updated Yours Recently?
Sum of Its Parts
Do you ever wonder if you could be doing a... Read More
Your business success depends on your ability to promote your... Read More
Trade shows are part of the marketing mix and the... Read More
You've probably heard the slogan, "You never get a second... Read More
Have you ever sat down to write a sales letter... Read More
In direct mail lore, there's a rule stating that you... Read More
Viral marketing involves the use of surf-exchanges, and if you... Read More
Email CampaignsEmail marketing can be a tremendously valuable tool for... Read More
Websites have replaced the brochure as the "must have" marketing... Read More
1. Focus your fax marketing on one objectiveFax is a... Read More
When it comes time to print your brand identity materials,... Read More
"Traction. Articulation. Ground Clearance. Maneuverability. Water Fording. We've put your... Read More
Mortgage marketing to Realtors involves having a crystal clear position... Read More
Over the last few years the buzz about CRM (Customer... Read More
The Logo: a little historyLogotype, commonly know as a logo,... Read More
Learn a lesson from professional direct mail copywriters. They follow... Read More
Bridging the Chasm from Lead to Loyal Customer: A Step... Read More
Are you spending more time trying to get new clients... Read More
One of the most common mistakes in marketing is making... Read More
When you put time or money into any marketing plan,... Read More
Ten Crucial Questions for Your Business Future I'm... Read More
Special event and a special recipe- hand it out on... Read More
Information is coming at us from all directions nowadays. This... Read More
Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More
If recreating the old experience of subscribing to magazines by... Read More
Marketing |