To some, marketing a business comes easy. To others, not so much. I fall into the not so much category. I can write a plan but the execution is a little outside my comfort zone. However, as Roy T. Bennett stated, “Great things don’t come from comfort zones.” -. It is true that the more you do something the better you’ll get, and while I am by no means a marketing guru, I have learned a lot. I’ve been in the business world for a long time, both in corporate America and in small businesses. Although the marketing strategies are different, the concept of marketing remains the same. Find your ideal clients and sell to them.
Here are some basic tools to get you started:
What service/product are you offering and how is it unique? This sounds simple, and it is, but don’t overlook all that goes into your product/service. For instance, pricing, location, business policies, delivery, manufacturing, etc. all need to be considered
Identify your ideal client. Get very specific. For example: Is your client, male, female, or a business? What is your ideal client’s profession? What is their educational background? What do they spend their money on? What do they do in their leisure time? Remember, you can’t market to everyone, so be specific.
Develop your elevator pitch. This a short sentence or two (at most) that explains what you do and how it helps your client. Create a solution to their problem. Here’s an example: We help businesses with bookkeeping, project management, and administrative services which allows our clients to be more efficient and profitable.
Create your platform. It could be a blog, online store, or a website. Choose a platform that plays to your strengths. If writing is one of your talents, then a blog might work perfectly. Websites are becoming easier to manage and could give you an opportunity to create your brand exactly as you want. Online stores are an option too.
Determine where your ideal client “hangs out.” Wherever your client works or plays, you should show up with a solution to their problem. There are so many ways to reach your client. Networking events, social media, asking for referrals, or sponsoring a local team are all possibilities Get creative.
Marketing plans can be extensive and very detailed. These are just a few ideas to get you started. Whatever you create will not be perfect. That’s okay. When you start to execute your plan, you’ll need to make adjustments. That’s okay. You won’t have all the answers, and that’s okay too. What’s not okay is not taking action. So get started, make a plan, and take action…. today.
