There are very few people in this world who don’t procrastinate. They procrastinate about different things and for different reasons. Now, I know what you’re saying, “Can’t we cover this next month?” My point exactly! When it comes to business, it is my experience that the one area many businesses procrastinate in is marketing, and this is one area where waiting until next month could mean the end of your business. There are a number of reasons why businesses delay their marketing efforts:
* They spend so much time and energy planning what they are going to do that they forget to figure out how they are going to do it.
* Marketing is a task they don’t know much about, so they are intimidated by it and avoid it altogether.
* They are afraid to fail . What if they spend money and they don’t see an immediate return? What if …what if…what if…?
* They are afraid to succeed. What if their marketing weapons work and bring in more business than they can handle? Are they prepared for that?
* They are perfectionists. They won’t do something unless they know it’s perfect; therefore, most projects take a long time or are not even started.
Whatever the reason for procrastinating marketing efforts, I have a few ways to help motivate you and get you on the right track.
* Set realistic expectations. First and foremost, determine whether you can afford what you are planning and whether you can realistically find the time or resources to “fire” your weapons.
* Set priorities. Your marketing plan may include several marketing weapons. Establish a timeline for launching each weapon and manage their use efficiently and effectively.
* Have external accountability. Once you set your priorities, ask someone, whether it is a coach or a friend, to hold you accountable for completing your tasks. Get feedback from them too on the quality and effectiveness of your marketing efforts.
* Distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s important. Implementing your marketing plan is important and urgent. Therefore, it deserves your undivided attention and even warrants turning off your email and letting your calls go to voicemail while you work on it.
* Reward yourself. Each time you complete a task in your marketing plan, reward yourself with something you like or like to do.
There's No Time To Procrastinate - To learn more about this author, visit Tom Long's Website.
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Tom Long
(Visit Tom's Website)
Tom Long is the President of Solid Oak
Consulting, LLC.
www.SolidOakConsulting.com
He is a seasoned executive with 30 years
of experience in starting, managing and
turning around business groups both
domestically and internationally.
He has started groups at Procter & Gamble,
Nastec Corporation, Ernst & Young and R.R.
Donnelley & Sons. And has worked to
turnaround groups at Cincom Systems,
Nastec Corporation, Oracle, KPMG, Andersen
Consulting and Computer Associates.
His involvement as an executive in a
Venture Capital backed startup, Nastec
Corporation, is where he first had the
opportunity to work in a turnaround
situation. But since then, he has
consistently sought out opportunities to
work in growing businesses, start-ups and
turnarounds.
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