I have said it before, and I will say it again, YOU are the marketing expert that your business needs!
Now, how will you make sure that you don't miss an opportunity to ensure that everyone who needs to hear your marketing message actually does? Think about it. There are literally THOUSANDS of people who are looking for exactly what you are offering right now. They are either actively searching for you and your services or subconsciously being nagged by that unmet need that prevents peace in their lives. This is huge. You have the answer to this nagging problem that they are seeking. All they need to do is understand that and BOTH of you will benefit. The problem is, you may not be in their view or in their thoughts!
And they can't FIND you unless you put yourself out there where you can actually be found!
So, how do you do this?
In my coaching program I teach that there are EIGHT SPOKES in the marketing wheel that you need to have in your business to be successful. I want to talk about TWO of them that I feel are important because they are free or very low-cost.
First, are you NETWORKING? You need to be setting time aside EVERY WEEK for networking. This could be through a weekly networking meeting or you could choose one day a week to set appointments and meet with people who either need your services directly or who can help you connect with others who do. I can't stress enough the importance of this. Ever heard the statement, "It's not what you know but who you know?" You should be making a point to build relationships with others who know you and will recommend you without hesitation.
An expert networker actually is working smarter vs. harder because they have a whole team of people helping them build their business at all times. This strategy is often referred to as your "unpaid sales force." You don't pay in cash, instead, your contribution is the effort it takes in building reciprocal, quality relationships; and when approached correctly, the payoff has significant cash value.
Second, do you have a Facebook PAGE for your business? Not only should you have a Facebook page set up you should be regularly posting messages on it while making a point to increase the number of "fans" that you have. If you are a child of the sixties or seventies and can remember a time when Facebook didn't exist, this suggestion might be an eyebrow raiser and you might even cringe somewhat at the thought but it's a tried and true strategy for getting the word out there about your product or service.
If you didn't even blink, then you already understand why this is so important and probably already have a page set up. Either way, if you aren't utilizing social networking in your business then you are missing a critical marketing opportunity. Utilizing Facebook is a marketing strategy that, if implemented properly, will quickly and easily help create the visibility that you need for your business.
I think it's pretty clear by now just how IMPORTANT I feel that marketing is for your success. I'll be talking about this more in the future but for now, ask yourself if the two "spokes" I've mentioned above are part of your "marketing wheel" and if they aren't; call me right away so I can help you make sure that they are!
Your action plan:
1. Join a networking organization and do what the successful networkers are doing.
2. Allocate one day of your week to be your networking day and make it an effective day.
3. Set up a Facebook page and contribute valuable tidbits. Don't spend more than 15 minutes making your daily posts. Use this as a tool to gain visibility; don't get sucked into a time wasting activity.