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Write You - It's A Lot Like Spinach Stuck Between Your Teeth – How Can You Tell You Need Marketing & Design Help
Not Rocket ScienceBecoming financially independent is more a matter of common sense and long term discipline than anything else.The great Cambridge economist and investor John May nard Keynes, placed his funds in no more than two companies at any one time. This simplistic approach was later adopted by Warren Buffet.Invest Before You SpendThe most basic of all rules is to make sure you allocate funds into your investments first, only then spending what is left over. A good rule of thumb is to invest 30% and live of 70%.Never Lose MoneyThe Golden Rule of investing is to never lose money. You must be careful to take advice from and invest with people who have better track records than yours.A wealthy businessman I know of uses the following simple rule. Whenever approached to invest in shares or property, he simply asks to see the adviser’s tax returns for the last 3 years. If the returns are better than his (and very few are on account of the fact that he never hears from most people again), only then does he strategically invest some of his hard earned funds.Losing money translates to the direct loss of the time and therefore life that it took to accumulate in the first place. When in doubt, walk away. Remember, don't lose money !Avoid Instant GratificationMost people fall victim to what economists call ‘emotional spending’.They spend all they have and then some by get
Does this marketing person(s) have the time; does she/he/you have the talent?
Do any of you have any formal marketing or advertising training?
Have any of you studied marketing and advertising, and how they affect consumers?
Do you feel confident that any of you know how your customer buys, and why she buys?
You might find that you’re in a good position to do the design and marketing for your company, but if you’re like most small business owners your talents might be elsewhere. If you’re really looking to grow, succeed and achieve in business, know what you don’t do well and bring people on in those areas to advise you and guide you.
How’s the Reaction?
Just as parents see their baby with rose-colored glasses, small business owners often see their company very differently than their prospects. Have you ever seen an average looking baby only to hear the parents rave over and over how she/he should be a baby model? Your business is probably your baby, and you’ll see it differently than how the rest of the world does. How your business is perceived by prospects (not you) will have a direct affect on your sales your success – how prospects view your business can be the difference between success and failure. Learning to see your business through the eyes of your prospects is essential. If you want to know why John Q. buys, you have to see the world through John Q’s eyes.
How might others see your business? Ask yourself these questions:
Do prospects often compliment your business image and marketing materials?
How do you think prospects would rate your business image and marketing materials: Outstanding / Good / Average / Below Average / Dismal.
Do you think p
Turn the page of any paper or turn on any news show and you’ll likely hear about the global energy crisis and soaring gas prices. But I’m convinced that the real energy crisis is not taking place in the oil fields of Texas and Iraq or the gas stations of New York and California but rather inside the people and the companies that contribute to our global economy. In a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. less than 15 percent agree that they feel strongly energized by their work and only 20 percent feel very passionate about their jobs. While part of this crisis can be attributed to management (37% of Managers are indifferent to their company’s fate) a big part of the problem can be associated with worker burnout. 42% are coping with burnout while 33% believe they have reached a dead end in their jobs and 21% are eager to change their jobs. The cost of fatigue, burnout and a lack of engagement to corporate America is staggering. The Gallup organization estimates the cost to be 250-300 billon dollars while work place fatigue alone costs American businesses at least 77 billion per year according to the National Sleep Foundation.There’s no doubt that today’s employees as a whole are under engaged, overtired and overstressed. If you’re not convinced just try to ease drop on water cooler conversations. You won’t hear anything because they are not there. They’re hovering around the coffee pot or in line at the corner coffee shop. P
So do you need marketing and design help? Let’s find out…
Price War:
Does it always feel like you have to compete on price? That’s tough, isn’t it? If this is the case for you, you’re not alone, I’ve found this to be a major challenge for most companies – those companies almost always desperately need marketing and design help. Here’s what happens: when customers aren’t educated on the value and benefits that they want from a professional in your industry they have difficulty evaluating which person is the best. So they evaluate professionals on something that can measure – price. You see, marketing’s first objective is to identify the value and benefit your customers want, then it should convey that value and benefit in a way that compels customers to respond and react. If there’s no perceived difference among you and your competition, customers will just rely on price when shopping.
Do you fully understand your customers’ needs and wants?
Do you know how to convey the value they want in a way that’s compelling to them?
If you answered “no”, you’re losing out on loads of customers and you need marketing and design help.
Find Out How You Stack Up:
Gather some of your competition’s collateral materials (logo, business card, advertisements, brochure, web site, etc). Ask yourself, “How does my business stack up with the rest of the field?” “Do you look like an expert compared to the rest of your competition?” Here’s what you need to understand: whether we recognize it or not, our collateral materials directly and immediately convey to prospects an image of expertise and quality. By visiting your web site, seeing an ad, or receiving a business card, your prospect is already evaluating whether or not you care about quality and whether or notnyou’re an expert in your field. If your prospects don’t perceive that you are an expert and care about quality, you’ve already got two strikes against you.
How do prospects perceive your commitment to quality and expertise compared to the rest of your industry? How is that affecting your sales? If you don’t look like an expert, and that’s something that’s important to you, you might want to look into marketing and design help.
To really find out where you stand, ask your prospects what they think about your marketing materials (make sure you recruit people that will give you a straight answer).
Take a Self Confidence Evaluation:
Have you ever told someone that your business image (cards, logo, web site, etc…) was temporary and that you we’re going to get it “fixed” later? Do you feel sheepish or apprehensive when showing or directing a prospect to some of your company’s marketing material? Do you avoid networking situations because your marketing and image don’t really show how good your business really is? Could you do a better job in promoting your company if your image was unique and eye-catching? Would you feel better about your business if you had a professional image?
If you’ve answered “yes”, you’ll want to contact a marketing and design expert. Not only do you need help, you probably want help as well.
Are You Insane?
Small business owners are a great bunch of people; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are still hopeful that they are magically going to succeed and grow their business. That’s crazy!
If you want to succeed and grow your business, that’s terrific, just make sure you have a plan and a clear strategy to back it up. Part of that strategy might include getting your accounting books in order, implementing a clear and effective marketing strategy, gathering extensive feedback from clients, hiring a business coach, competitive analysis, permission marketing or upgrading your web site, company identity or marketing materials. These aren’t expenses, they are investments.
Doing the same thing from year to year and expecting different results is crazy – well, actually it’s defined as insanity.
Are you planning on growing your business? If so, what measures are you going to undertake to do it? What are you going to do, or invest in this year to grow your company?
Do you expect to grow your company this year, or are you just hoping? Be honest with yourself. If you hope to grow your business but you’re not doing anything significant to make that happen, you probably want to look into what effective, results-driven marketing and design can do for you.
Do a Skills Assessment:
One of the most beneficial concepts I’ve learned in business is knowing what I can, and what I can’t do well. Even within the field of design there are many areas I specialize in, and some I am not as strong in. In those areas where I was not as strong, I was savvy enough to recognize I needed an expert, so I hired one. I know I can’t do it all. More than that, I know I shouldn’t do it all, and you shouldn’t either. What do you really do well, and is marketing and design one of those things? Is your business being hurt because you’re trying to do the marketing and design?
Here’s a great exercise: pretend that you had a board of directors for your business, and you were on that board rather than the current owner or manager. If you were on that board, do you think that the person(s) currently doing the marketing and design for your business are qualified to help your company succeed and grow?
Does this marketing person(s) have the time; does she/he/you have the talent?
Do any of you have any formal marketing or advertising training?
Have any of you studied marketing and advertising, and how they affect consumers?
Do you feel confident that any of you know how your customer buys, and why she buys?
You might find that you’re in a good position to do the design and marketing for your company, but if you’re like most small business owners your talents might be elsewhere. If you’re really looking to grow, succeed and achieve in business, know what you don’t do well and bring people on in those areas to advise you and guide you.
How’s the Reaction?
Just as parents see their baby with rose-colored glasses, small business owners often see their company very differently than their prospects. Have you ever seen an average looking baby only to hear the parents rave over and over how she/he should be a baby model? Your business is probably your baby, and you’ll see it differently than how the rest of the world does. How your business is perceived by prospects (not you) will have a direct affect on your sales your success – how prospects view your business can be the difference between success and failure. Learning to see your business through the eyes of your prospects is essential. If you want to know why John Q. buys, you have to see the world through John Q’s eyes.
How might others see your business? Ask yourself these questions:
Do prospects often compliment your business image and marketing materials?
How do you think prospects would rate your business image and marketing materials: Outstanding / Good / Average / Below Average / Dismal.
Do you think p
The era of rubber silicone wristbands began when the Lance Armstrong introduced the Livestrong bracelets. And right there and then the idea of producing customized silicone wristbands was a success.Rubber silicone wristbands combine all the attributes of regular wristbands like the strength, flexibility, it is highly customizable and most of all it is cheap.The multi-colored bracelets you worn by other people are made from 100% silicone wristbands. The smoothness of the bracelets emphasizes the durability of the silicone wristbands. They are also round, and never gets out of shape. The bracelets are packed in individual plastic bags so that it would be easier for you to distribute them.But what set the rubber silicone wristbands from other wristbands was its price. For less than dollar each, you can have the bracelets produced. If you have a design in mind, all you have to do is to inform the manufacturer of these rubber silicone wristbands and send the payment.Once you have sent in the payment and the manufacturer has confirmed that he received it all that is left to do is sit back and relax because the bracelets will be delivered right to your doorstep.With the use of rubber silicone wristbands, you can let other people know the message you are trying to convey. Your message, color, and logo are all there.
Find Out How You Stack Up:
Gather some of your competition’s collateral materials (logo, business card, advertisements, brochure, web site, etc). Ask yourself, “How does my business stack up with the rest of the field?” “Do you look like an expert compared to the rest of your competition?” Here’s what you need to understand: whether we recognize it or not, our collateral materials directly and immediately convey to prospects an image of expertise and quality. By visiting your web site, seeing an ad, or receiving a business card, your prospect is already evaluating whether or not you care about quality and whether or notnyou’re an expert in your field. If your prospects don’t perceive that you are an expert and care about quality, you’ve already got two strikes against you.
How do prospects perceive your commitment to quality and expertise compared to the rest of your industry? How is that affecting your sales? If you don’t look like an expert, and that’s something that’s important to you, you might want to look into marketing and design help.
To really find out where you stand, ask your prospects what they think about your marketing materials (make sure you recruit people that will give you a straight answer).
Take a Self Confidence Evaluation:
Have you ever told someone that your business image (cards, logo, web site, etc…) was temporary and that you we’re going to get it “fixed” later? Do you feel sheepish or apprehensive when showing or directing a prospect to some of your company’s marketing material? Do you avoid networking situations because your marketing and image don’t really show how good your business really is? Could you do a better job in promoting your company if your image was unique and eye-catching? Would you feel better about your business if you had a professional image?
If you’ve answered “yes”, you’ll want to contact a marketing and design expert. Not only do you need help, you probably want help as well.
Are You Insane?
Small business owners are a great bunch of people; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are still hopeful that they are magically going to succeed and grow their business. That’s crazy!
If you want to succeed and grow your business, that’s terrific, just make sure you have a plan and a clear strategy to back it up. Part of that strategy might include getting your accounting books in order, implementing a clear and effective marketing strategy, gathering extensive feedback from clients, hiring a business coach, competitive analysis, permission marketing or upgrading your web site, company identity or marketing materials. These aren’t expenses, they are investments.
Doing the same thing from year to year and expecting different results is crazy – well, actually it’s defined as insanity.
Are you planning on growing your business? If so, what measures are you going to undertake to do it? What are you going to do, or invest in this year to grow your company?
Do you expect to grow your company this year, or are you just hoping? Be honest with yourself. If you hope to grow your business but you’re not doing anything significant to make that happen, you probably want to look into what effective, results-driven marketing and design can do for you.
Do a Skills Assessment:
One of the most beneficial concepts I’ve learned in business is knowing what I can, and what I can’t do well. Even within the field of design there are many areas I specialize in, and some I am not as strong in. In those areas where I was not as strong, I was savvy enough to recognize I needed an expert, so I hired one. I know I can’t do it all. More than that, I know I shouldn’t do it all, and you shouldn’t either. What do you really do well, and is marketing and design one of those things? Is your business being hurt because you’re trying to do the marketing and design?
Here’s a great exercise: pretend that you had a board of directors for your business, and you were on that board rather than the current owner or manager. If you were on that board, do you think that the person(s) currently doing the marketing and design for your business are qualified to help your company succeed and grow?
Does this marketing person(s) have the time; does she/he/you have the talent?
Do any of you have any formal marketing or advertising training?
Have any of you studied marketing and advertising, and how they affect consumers?
Do you feel confident that any of you know how your customer buys, and why she buys?
You might find that you’re in a good position to do the design and marketing for your company, but if you’re like most small business owners your talents might be elsewhere. If you’re really looking to grow, succeed and achieve in business, know what you don’t do well and bring people on in those areas to advise you and guide you.
How’s the Reaction?
Just as parents see their baby with rose-colored glasses, small business owners often see their company very differently than their prospects. Have you ever seen an average looking baby only to hear the parents rave over and over how she/he should be a baby model? Your business is probably your baby, and you’ll see it differently than how the rest of the world does. How your business is perceived by prospects (not you) will have a direct affect on your sales your success – how prospects view your business can be the difference between success and failure. Learning to see your business through the eyes of your prospects is essential. If you want to know why John Q. buys, you have to see the world through John Q’s eyes.
How might others see your business? Ask yourself these questions:
Do prospects often compliment your business image and marketing materials?
How do you think prospects would rate your business image and marketing materials: Outstanding / Good / Average / Below Average / Dismal.
Do you think p
I really can't stand leaving my office disorganized and that's how I felt when I left my office and went home yesterday.I was up late last night doing some work from home, but that nagging feeling was there becauseI like to walk into a clean, organized office each day. (I just feel better). Because of that I decided to get to work a little earlier today. It was quiet and after I straightened up, I looked over a few books I had laying around. In doing so, I re-read my favorite success quote of all time.To me this quote also reveals the most important word in the 'success dictionary'.Before I share it with you, I want you to know why it's soimportant for you to really understand this quote.To me, the beauty of this one sentence reveals the true secret of long term success. Let me explain.Too many people are looking for the 'latest trick', the latest 'get rich quick' scheme; they're looking 'outside of themselves' for the answer.Unfortunately, I don't think they're going to find it. Let me share with you a powerful insight.***The whole world revolves around VALUE. Let me say that again.***The whole world revolves around VALUE. Here's more. The business of making money is all about having aVALUE for VALUE exchange.You trade your value (money) for someone else's value(their product or service). The greater the VALUE, the more you'll 'trade' with them. It's really that simple.So here's my point
If you’ve answered “yes”, you’ll want to contact a marketing and design expert. Not only do you need help, you probably want help as well.
Are You Insane?
Small business owners are a great bunch of people; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are still hopeful that they are magically going to succeed and grow their business. That’s crazy!
If you want to succeed and grow your business, that’s terrific, just make sure you have a plan and a clear strategy to back it up. Part of that strategy might include getting your accounting books in order, implementing a clear and effective marketing strategy, gathering extensive feedback from clients, hiring a business coach, competitive analysis, permission marketing or upgrading your web site, company identity or marketing materials. These aren’t expenses, they are investments.
Doing the same thing from year to year and expecting different results is crazy – well, actually it’s defined as insanity.
Are you planning on growing your business? If so, what measures are you going to undertake to do it? What are you going to do, or invest in this year to grow your company?
Do you expect to grow your company this year, or are you just hoping? Be honest with yourself. If you hope to grow your business but you’re not doing anything significant to make that happen, you probably want to look into what effective, results-driven marketing and design can do for you.
Do a Skills Assessment:
One of the most beneficial concepts I’ve learned in business is knowing what I can, and what I can’t do well. Even within the field of design there are many areas I specialize in, and some I am not as strong in. In those areas where I was not as strong, I was savvy enough to recognize I needed an expert, so I hired one. I know I can’t do it all. More than that, I know I shouldn’t do it all, and you shouldn’t either. What do you really do well, and is marketing and design one of those things? Is your business being hurt because you’re trying to do the marketing and design?
Here’s a great exercise: pretend that you had a board of directors for your business, and you were on that board rather than the current owner or manager. If you were on that board, do you think that the person(s) currently doing the marketing and design for your business are qualified to help your company succeed and grow?
Does this marketing person(s) have the time; does she/he/you have the talent?
Do any of you have any formal marketing or advertising training?
Have any of you studied marketing and advertising, and how they affect consumers?
Do you feel confident that any of you know how your customer buys, and why she buys?
You might find that you’re in a good position to do the design and marketing for your company, but if you’re like most small business owners your talents might be elsewhere. If you’re really looking to grow, succeed and achieve in business, know what you don’t do well and bring people on in those areas to advise you and guide you.
How’s the Reaction?
Just as parents see their baby with rose-colored glasses, small business owners often see their company very differently than their prospects. Have you ever seen an average looking baby only to hear the parents rave over and over how she/he should be a baby model? Your business is probably your baby, and you’ll see it differently than how the rest of the world does. How your business is perceived by prospects (not you) will have a direct affect on your sales your success – how prospects view your business can be the difference between success and failure. Learning to see your business through the eyes of your prospects is essential. If you want to know why John Q. buys, you have to see the world through John Q’s eyes.
How might others see your business? Ask yourself these questions:
Do prospects often compliment your business image and marketing materials?
How do you think prospects would rate your business image and marketing materials: Outstanding / Good / Average / Below Average / Dismal.
Do you think p
Elizabeth is the executive director of a large non-profit organization that provides wide-ranging services to people in need. She and her staff work long hours to help their clients as effectively as possible, always trying to make the best use of limited resources. While she acknowledges that hard work and scarce resources are the way of the non-profit world Elizabeth admits that she feels increasingly overwhelmed. She accepts as fact that she will work herself to burnout then leave the organization.Frank, a successful surgeon, is a popular, sought-after speaker at medical conferences around the world. He struggles to balance the challenges of his work with the demands of his family while trying to squeeze a little time for himself out of his tight schedule. Like Elizabeth, Frank has resigned himself to what he sees as the inevitable cost of his career. Living with exhaustion and fatigue is the price he has to pay for his success.Kate is the mother of three small children. She works a part-time job, struggling to maintain her home, care for her kids, spend time with her husband, get enough exercise, and tend to her aging parents' needs. Like Frank and Elizabeth, Kate resignedly accepts her situation the way it is. She feels powerless to change things.Kate, Frank and Elizabeth find themselves in demanding situations. They sought coaching because they were tired. They want to make changes in their lives and their livelihoods
Doing the same thing from year to year and expecting different results is crazy – well, actually it’s defined as insanity.
Are you planning on growing your business? If so, what measures are you going to undertake to do it? What are you going to do, or invest in this year to grow your company?
Do you expect to grow your company this year, or are you just hoping? Be honest with yourself. If you hope to grow your business but you’re not doing anything significant to make that happen, you probably want to look into what effective, results-driven marketing and design can do for you.
Do a Skills Assessment:
One of the most beneficial concepts I’ve learned in business is knowing what I can, and what I can’t do well. Even within the field of design there are many areas I specialize in, and some I am not as strong in. In those areas where I was not as strong, I was savvy enough to recognize I needed an expert, so I hired one. I know I can’t do it all. More than that, I know I shouldn’t do it all, and you shouldn’t either. What do you really do well, and is marketing and design one of those things? Is your business being hurt because you’re trying to do the marketing and design?
Here’s a great exercise: pretend that you had a board of directors for your business, and you were on that board rather than the current owner or manager. If you were on that board, do you think that the person(s) currently doing the marketing and design for your business are qualified to help your company succeed and grow?
Does this marketing person(s) have the time; does she/he/you have the talent?
Do any of you have any formal marketing or advertising training?
Have any of you studied marketing and advertising, and how they affect consumers?
Do you feel confident that any of you know how your customer buys, and why she buys?
You might find that you’re in a good position to do the design and marketing for your company, but if you’re like most small business owners your talents might be elsewhere. If you’re really looking to grow, succeed and achieve in business, know what you don’t do well and bring people on in those areas to advise you and guide you.
How’s the Reaction?
Just as parents see their baby with rose-colored glasses, small business owners often see their company very differently than their prospects. Have you ever seen an average looking baby only to hear the parents rave over and over how she/he should be a baby model? Your business is probably your baby, and you’ll see it differently than how the rest of the world does. How your business is perceived by prospects (not you) will have a direct affect on your sales your success – how prospects view your business can be the difference between success and failure. Learning to see your business through the eyes of your prospects is essential. If you want to know why John Q. buys, you have to see the world through John Q’s eyes.
How might others see your business? Ask yourself these questions:
Do prospects often compliment your business image and marketing materials?
How do you think prospects would rate your business image and marketing materials: Outstanding / Good / Average / Below Average / Dismal.
Do you think p
Oh no! You need audit advice. You just received in the mail a notification that you are going to be audited by the IRS. What now? How do you respond to this and should you be having a heart attack now? While many people lose it as soon as they realize that the IRS is going to be asking for their records and proof, the fact of the matter is that the best audit advice is to stay calm and gather the information that you need carefully, accurately and without worry.Before you put it to the side and decide to deal with it later, (it won’t go away by the way) take the time to respond to it. Give the IRS a call and find out what is going on and when they want to come and see your paperwork. This simple phone call can help you to find the right information before you react the wrong way. Remember, it’s not the lady on the other side of the phone’s fault that this is happening to you either. So, be nice, play fair and be honest.Do you need some extra time to get your information in order? Need to dig out that box, organize it and hope that is all there? Then make sure to ask for a postponement of the audit. This audit advice is very important: don’t wait until the last minute to do it either! Call them up and ask for a small delay so that you can get things in order. Simple, done.Lastly, it is important to realize that most audits are simply needed because of minor errors. You added or subtracted wrong. You entered t
Does this marketing person(s) have the time; does she/he/you have the talent?
Do any of you have any formal marketing or advertising training?
Have any of you studied marketing and advertising, and how they affect consumers?
Do you feel confident that any of you know how your customer buys, and why she buys?
You might find that you’re in a good position to do the design and marketing for your company, but if you’re like most small business owners your talents might be elsewhere. If you’re really looking to grow, succeed and achieve in business, know what you don’t do well and bring people on in those areas to advise you and guide you.
How’s the Reaction?
Just as parents see their baby with rose-colored glasses, small business owners often see their company very differently than their prospects. Have you ever seen an average looking baby only to hear the parents rave over and over how she/he should be a baby model? Your business is probably your baby, and you’ll see it differently than how the rest of the world does. How your business is perceived by prospects (not you) will have a direct affect on your sales your success – how prospects view your business can be the difference between success and failure. Learning to see your business through the eyes of your prospects is essential. If you want to know why John Q. buys, you have to see the world through John Q’s eyes.
How might others see your business? Ask yourself these questions:
Do prospects often compliment your business image and marketing materials?
How do you think prospects would rate your business image and marketing materials: Outstanding / Good / Average / Below Average / Dismal.
Do you think prospect’s can see a clear and definite reason to do business with you over anyone else in the industry? Are you the clear choice?
Do you have a clear, unique marketing strategy (clear and effective process of attracting new customers)?
In your marketing and advertising, are you saying the same things as everyone else in your industry?
Do you think you stand out from the rest of the crowd (in a positive light)? If not, how do you think that affects your sales?
Be honest with yourself, do your answers suggest that your prospects see you as a clear expert, the clear choice to do business with, or just one of the crowd? Now of course you see a huge difference between you and the competition, but that’s not important – do your prospects see a difference? Based on your answers, do you think you might need marketing and design assistance, or are you in good shape?
Are You Keeping Up with the Joneses?
You might be in an industry that is shielded from new entrants and stiffer competition, but for the rest of us, it gets more challenging. Challenging is okay, in fact it’s good, but you have to have to meet the challenge with new ideas, more effective marketing and perhaps a better strategy. Are you keeping up with the rest of the industry, and how might that effect your sales? If you’re finding it hard to compete, there’s a strong possibility you need to infuse fresh marketing and design into your business. Ask yourself these questions:
Is your company growing at the same rate as the industry and your competition?
Do you see others in your industry that aren’t as good and talented doing better than you?
Is there more or less competition in the industry?
Is the competition getting easier or tougher to deal with?
Are you proactively competing with others in your field, or just hoping the competition won’t raise the bar on you?
The first step in getting help is recognizing you need it. Hopefully this article has given you some answers and some insight: either you should seriously look into getting marketing and design assistance, or you feel better about how you stack up against the rest of the field. Whether its marketing and design, or processes and procedures, you should always be looking at what’s working and how you can make it work better. How can you improve your business today?
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