There are countless times I’ve sat in an executive or owners meeting where the team says they know their customers and what they want. Really? How do you know?
When you are running a business, every chance you get to convert a prospect into a customer should be treated like gold, because it literally is gold in your pocket. Nothing is more frustrating than finding out that the time, energy and effort you spent getting leads in the door is being wasted due to not striving hard all the way to the finish line.
There was a time when marketers had a bad reputation. They were seen as slimy, manipulative agents who tricked consumers into buying something the either didn’t want or that didn’t even come close to delivering what was advertised. That is changing. Why? Because your audience can sniff out your BS. And not only that, they will actively, aggressively and immediately jump on their technology to tell everyone else you are a swindler. Scared? You should be.
Your business isn’t run in a silo. In fact, your business lives within an ocean of possibilities–alongside of dangerous currents, sharks, El Nino, and so on. You wouldn’t believe what a simple lesson in surfing can teach you about how to ride a wave to a life of margaritas on the shore. This begins with a single statement from my surf coach Crash. Don’t let the name fool you.
Even though there are hundreds of thousands of ways to market your business, it doesn’t mean they are all right for you. Thank goodness, right? Because your marketing budget is not endless, and there isn’t enough time in the day for you, or your team, to do it all. The trick is figuring out how to make what you need to happen, happen.
Shot from the hip marketing only gets you so far. Yes, you need to be nimble in order to take advantage of the wide range of marketing opportunities available to you today. However, you will always feel like you are running in circles if you do not have a marketing plan serving as your foundation to basic day to day marketing activities. Not only is this approach ineffective, it is also completely exhausting. Greatness rarely falls in one’s lap. The best of the best start with a plan.
When you meet an executive or owner of a business, ask them to tell you their mission, then their vision. Did you notice anything? Maybe it felt clunky, confusing, a bit off, or somewhat pointless. Better yet, let’s take a shot at your company’s words on that wall. Start by simply defining the terms vision and mission. This exercise alone should not be difficult. In fact if it is, then living your vision and mission will be awfully hard across your organization.
Your audience drowns in 20,000 message and brand exposures each day. Not surprisingly, of those only an average of 86 ads per day hit consumers’ awareness. A mere 7% of ads consumers are aware of actually make an impression. By changing your approach when it comes to marketing impressions, your audience can’t help but notice you in a way that matters.
Marketing has always gotten a bad wrap. The consensus is that marketers use tricker and invade space. Ok, but really it depends on the marketer and the company’s mindset. Those I typically work with seek out the authentic value within the company that serves customers in need for the long haul. When it is real, it is beneficial to both sides. Forming bond that can’t be broken.
There is a creative bone in everyone’s body. Some are just better than others at cultivating it. Creativity can be nurtured. Best of all, the right creativity creates the right results. Here are some simple ways you can put your creative mind to work for your business’s marketing efforts.
