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Top 10 Ways to Marketing Your Business in ‘09

Guest post by: Nancy Michaels

Article Overview: During the last economic recession that I experienced in the early ‘90s when I launched my business, I had a unique advantage that others will have if you’re one of the fortunate ones to make the break and start your business – or if you decide to kick it into high gear.

Top 10 Ways to Marketing Your Business in ‘09

During the last economic recession that I experienced in the early ‘90s when I launched my business, I had a unique advantage that others will have if you’re one of the fortunate ones to make the break and start your business – or if you decide to kick it into high gear.

1. Business is About Relationships-No kidding. People buy from people they know, like and trust. If you’re not focused on building the relationship long-term, you won’t be the success in business you might be otherwise. Starting right now, focus on building the relationship with your prospects and clients.

2. Trust Your Intuition-My dear friend and colleague, Lynn Robinson, has written a great book, Trust Your Gut, and I believe in it wholeheartedly. I recently did just that and felt saved by not investing in an outrageously expensive business program because it didn’t feel right in my gut. Within a few short weeks, another bigger and better opportunity presented itself.

3. Employ VCR – Visibility, Consistency and Repetition-McDonalds may not have the best burger in the world, but what it does offer regardless of where you are on planet earth is a consistent, affordable product – from Tokyo to Boston – you’ll be experiencing virtually the same thing. That’s their major selling advantage that’s packed in consistency – right down to the golden arches. Are you visible in the markets you need to be seen in? Do you present that image in a consistent way and repeat it over time? Coke and Pepsi do too – if one of them opted out of this approach the other would gain market share. What are you doing to ensure your good standing in your market?

4. Provide more Value that What You’re Charging-Under promise and over deliver – works every time. We’re always left with a great impression of someone or their company when we feel that we received a great value for the price we paid. Extend the same experience to all you serve in business and it will come back 10-fold in referrals and repeat business. Remember, it’s always easier and less expensive to retain a client than it is to get a new one.

5. Use a Media Mix-Focus on three or four ways to reach your target market(s) and ideal prospects. There are a myriad of ideas out there that you can put to use in your business, but my suggestion would be that you focus on the activities you enjoy and are good at. E-zine marketing is cost-effective and keeps you in touch with a large number of people. It’s a great leveraging tool and I use it weekly in my business and suggest others do as well. I also attend conferences and conventions where my clients are likely to be. I write articles for trade publications and related web sites where my prospects and clients will read. I do customized direct mail to my A list clientele as
well during Chinese New Year and July 4th. There is no one magic bullet to your marketing, but commit to something and implement.

6. Start with the End In Mind -I’ve given you several ideas you could implement in your marketing, however, you need to take the calendar out for ’09 and begin with the end in mind. When would you like to send out a mailing, write a press release and distribute it, contact an editor to inquire about writing an article, etc. Then, work backwards from those dates so the tasks at hand aren’t overwhelming.

7. De-Clutter and Donate What Doesn’t Serve You Any Longer-As we bring in additional bags of goodies during the month of November and December – remember to donate and get rid of things that we no longer need or serve us. It will benefit others less fortunate and give our space some breathing room to allow for new energies to flow through and to you. Getting organized is Key to Marketing Success I don't care how good your marketing and sales skills are, and how good your marketing plan is; if you're not organized, you probably won't implement it. If you can't track your papers, projects, promises and ideas, you are limiting your possibilities. Setting up a system doesn't take long or cost much, but it will pay off for years to come. Get organized for the New Year!

8. Utilize Creativity in All You Do-I can’t emphasize this enough and feel so passionate about it that Debbi Kickham and I co-authored, Off the Wall Marketing Ideas nearly a decade ago and we’re still receiving royalty checks on it for a plethora of ideas on how to employ off the wall marketing in the New Year!

9. Join a Mastermind that’s Focused on Your Specific Objectives for ‘09-If you haven’t read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, you must purchase this today (give link for Amazon). He specifically talks about the value of a mastermind alliance and I can’t say enough about making this kind of investment of time and resources to take your business to an entirely new level. Next year, we are launching a private Mastermind Group for only 20 individuals who are serious about earning 7-figures through working with Fortune 500 Companies as Clients and Sponsors of your work. If you’d like to receive an application, contact Misty Allen at misty@growyourbusinessnetwork.com.

Please, serious inquiries only, as this program is an investment of five figures for the year. Remember, though, that if you are serious about catapulting your business through working with key decision makers within corporate America. This is the only mastermind program like this. We’re officially kicking it off after the new year, so you’re hearing it for the first time now and we can offer some “creative financing” for those interested.

10. Get Your List in High Functioning Order-You are only as good as your list and your ability to market to that list. We’re in the process of prioritizing our A list clients, product purchasers, professional organizations, media contacts, referral sources, etc. with a customer relationship management expert and know it will make a huge difference in our business next year. You have got to know who you’re best and most loyal clients and prospects are and market to them accordingly.

Don’t let the media get you down. Turn off the television and start listening to soothing classical music (or whatever you prefer) and start planning your strategy to tip the scale next year and have a banner year!

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Article Tags: book trust, business program, coke, colleague, consistency, dear friend, economic recession, fortunate ones, golden arches, intuition, lynn robinson, market share, mcdonalds, pepsi, planet earth, prospects, repetition, trust your gut, vcr, visibility



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