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Over at 45n5.com, there’s a fun post and two videos about a SERIOUS problem. Go ahead and check them out. You’ll be glad you did! And on that note, let’s take a light hearted look at marketing today. I’m (right now) in the middle of cleaning house, happily putting away toys from the granddaughters’ last visit, doing laundry, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms … you know, all that exciting stuff. And meanwhile, I’m mulling over what to write about this next week … what can I add to the ever-evolving online marketing conversation? Then it hit me … marketing is a bit like housework!
Do a little each day so that it doesn’t pile up on you.
Just like you wouldn’t go days between doing dishes, laundry or picking up after yourself, make sure you don’t go days, weeks or months without marketing your business. Tackle a little every day to keep your marketing goals within reach. “Can’t have anyone over” syndrome is the result of letting things go on the homefront. Overwhelm and “can’t seem to attract new business” syndrome is the result of letting your marketing slip from a priority status to a “when I have time” activity.
Efficiency and organization counts.
What’s your plan, your strategy for getting the job done? “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” Trite, yes, but also true. Is your calendar up-to-date? Are you capturing tasks on some form of to-do list? Can you find what you need, when you need it?
Every once in awhile it helps to discard outdated ideas to make room for new ones.
You give away or pitch your old clothes when they’re no longer useful to you, right? What about old, rusty, outdated ideas? What self-limiting beliefs are holding you back? Are you locked into a pattern of conventional advertising that doesn’t bring in much business? Are you paying big bucks for a Yellow Book ad, but not quite sure about investing in online advertising? Maybe you think other businesses owners who blog have way more time than you do. Maybe you’re not quite ready to add e-commerce to your site because “it’s so risky to buy over the Internet.” I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea. We all limit ourselves in one way or another. The trick is taking some time to sort through those old beliefs once in awhile, hold them up to the light and ask if they’re still valid, or if they were ever valid.
Distractions make the job go faster …
… no wait, that one doesn’t fit! (I do most of my household tasks while plugged into my Mp3 player, usually listening to something inspirational or educational.)
On second thought, distractions can foster creativity. Always keep a notebook handy to record those burst of inspiration. For instance, I get some of my best copywriting ideas when I’m out walking my dog. There’s something about watching her romp through the woods that has always put a smile on my face. Next thing you know, the ideas start to flow. Without a notebook, those ideas flit out of my memory just as fast as they entered. Yes, I’m the geek writing furiously in my little hardback pocket notebook, in the middle of the woods.
Procrastination is your worst enemy.
Have a great idea? Get started on it. I suspect that more marketing ideas fail for lack of momentum than for any other reason. I’m not suggesting that you dive in to a risky venture without thorough analysis, but if you’ve been talking about sending out a newsletter for three months and don’t have the first article written, it’s not risk holding you back, but procrastination. (Note to self: get moving on that newsletter!)
Anybody want to build on this idea?
To what would you compare small business marketing? “Marketing is like …. ” Your turn. Please have fun with this and add your thoughts in the comments.
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on Mar 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
How true!Regular maintenance sets the stage for each next step. Maybe marketing is like algebra. Not the difficulty, the stages. If you don’t learn how to manage one aspect, the next will often be more difficult or impossible to maintain.
Marketing is like driving a car, if you don’t keep gas in it, it will stop on the side of the road!
Good article.
on Mar 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Good analogies! Marketing IS like driving a car … needs gas, regular maintenance, a thorough detailing now and then, and a driver. Gee, I’d have had more fun working with that than housework! Thanks for your comment.
on Apr 7th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Nice Post…For me “Marketing is like beats of the Heart(Business)” If your beats becomes slower means your heart must be having some trouble.
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Nice article! Investment in online advertising and marketing both become very important for any business. Thanks for sharing this article…