For anyone launching a business today- whether it is an offline or online business- one of your key priorities
must be marketing.
The days of following the same game plan used by countless businesses throughout the decades are gone. No longer can you just buy some local advertising space in your newspaper to promote your business. No longer can you buy some banner ad space on some web sites or blogs to draw attention to your business. No longer can you follow in the deep footsteps of those who have come before you. Those days are long past as are the typical, tried-and-true marketing tactics.
Today’s marketplace and the world’s economical situation is different than it was
even a year ago. Businesses have to be smarter, more focused, and even more creative and original if they have any hope of surviving.
I’ve been reading Marketing God Seth Godin’s
Purple Cow which I have found to be
invaluable in what it is teaching. One thing he stresses in the book is the need for businesses to be risky. I couldn’t agree more.
Playing it safe or doing what has been done before will ultimately lead to failure.
Take Risks!
Now is the time for businesses (including bloggers) to take risks and standout from the crowd. With risk comes the chance for failure but also
the opportunity for success. If you do fail with a risky marketing plan or a new service or a new product- learn from it and try again.
Focus! Focus! Focus!
In addition to taking risks, businesses need to focus their efforts on only those who buy or use their product or service. Once you have determined who those buyers are, use them to help spread news about your product or service.
This can be done by providing incentives for them (your buyers) to want to help you succeed. Incentives could be asking them to participate in your product or service by asking for their feedback. In return for their help, you could give them two coupons: one for them and one for another person to use. Another way to get your customers to help you is to be involved in social networks such as Twitter or Facebook. You could provide those who follow you information regarding your product / service, make them the first to know of a new product, hold contests which involves their input- the possibilities are endless.
Be A Leader, Not A Follower
The main point I am trying to get across is to come up with new, fresh ideas for growing and marketing your business- regardless of what it is. Do you want to be lumped in the same group as your competitors or do you want to stand out from the crowd? If so then look at what other forward-thinking businesses are doing which you are not in direct competition with but have the same market. What are they doing to make themselves stand out?
What ideas worked or didn’t work for them?
How can you apply what they are doing to your business?
So how are you going to differentiate yourself from your competitors?
