Marketing … Really, Really Simple

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Marketing is really pretty simple.
At its core, it really is communication.
Telling people what you do… telling the right people what you do.
That is it.

The strategies to do this can be complex or simple… and there are many different ways to do this.its-easy

But it all really comes down to telling the right people what you do.

So who are the right people?

They are the ones that want or need what you have to offer.

Pretty simple!

If you change oil, it’s someone who has a car and needs an oil change.
If you provide therapeutic massage, its someone with sore muscles.
If you sell ice cream, its someone who likes to eat ice cream.

Now… does that not make sense.

Someone who only rides a bike – an quick lube business does not need to talk to.
Someone who feels good and relaxed – probably not thinking about getting a massage.
Someone who doesn’t like ice cream or is on a strict diet… no need to tell them you have 199 different flavours.

So communicate – tell them what you have… tell the right people.
That is marketing.

And marketing is not evil or twisted or manipulative.

It is about communication… and good marketing is just about communicating correctly – as best you can.

If you are in a relationship, do you not think it is a good idea to learn how to communicate.
If you could learn more about communicating with your partner, and your partner could learn about communicating with you, and you could each better understand each other… is that not a great thing?

Well that is what good marketing is about. That is what a professional marketer will help you with… or that is what you can learn by reading books, taking courses, or talking to a marketing professional. How to communicate better with those people that want what you have to offer.

Marketing…. really really simple…..

Marketing …. really

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Here are some marketing quotes that have a bit of truth in them.trust-me-marketing-person

Give your opinion.

So long as there’s a jingle in your head, television isn’t free.
~ Jason Love

It is our job to make women unhappy with what they have.
~ B. Earl Puckett

“[Sales and marketing] have to start talking to each other. They’ve got to stop spilling each other’s beers.”
~ Ann Handley

Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you’re doing, but nobody else does.
~ Stuart H. Britt

Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd.
~ P. T. Barnum

“If we are smart, we make a lot of mistakes.”
~ Raman Frey

A gossip is one who talks to you about others; a bore is one who talks to you about himself; and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.
~ Lisa Kirk

sea-pandas“I think the biggest mistake that salespeople make today is that they try to pretend they’re not salespeople.”
~ Irreverent Sales Girl

Marketing is what you do when your product is no good.
~ Edwin Land

Talking

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What’s the best marketing advice in the world?

Talk to your customers!

That is the number one way you can improve your bottom line…. Talk to them, ask them questions, and listen to what they say.

The more you do this, the better your business will be.shutterstock_289830740

What are some questions you should be asking?

  • How was your _______________? (meal, experience, stay, the service, etc.)
  • How did you find out about us?
  • Why did you choose us?
  • Anything we can do better?
  • Did we do anything that you really liked?
  • What did you not like?
  • Would you refer your family or friends?
  • When would you be coming back?
  • What else can we do for you?

These are just a few questions that will help you get a real sense of what your customers are looking for in regard to your product or service.

As you talk to your customers, you will start to see trends.

Sometimes thing jump right out at you, things you need to change right away.

Other times a trend will slowly emerge, and it is something that can have a dramatic impact on your business.

As well, the huge benefit from talking to your customers, sincerely engaging in a conversation is that you will begin to care about them as individuals, and they will start to sense that with you.

At that point, your whole business culture will be shifting – to a customer focused business.

Start today!

Marketing Idealist

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I have tried to find my brand, what to distinguish me, my thoughts, my philosophy on marketing, from other marketing consultants.

I believe this is an ongoing process.jezenert

One term I have use is Marketing Idealist.

People have asked me what that means.

For me that has two meanings.

The first, the most direct meaning is that I create, conjure, construct new marketing ideas.

I have the ability to take your business, your products, your target market, your ideal client, and come up with new and innovative ways to communicate your business.

I am proud of the fact that marketing ideas come to me, that they are good ideas, and that they work when implemented.

The second meaning to Marketing Idealist is more philosophical.

I believe that marketing, good marketing, is about doing good.

It is about solving problems, helping people.

I believe the best marketing is simply the link between a persons problem, need or want, and the product, solution that will fix the problem, fulfill the need or want.

Marketing should not convince anyone to purchase something that will not bring positive results.

Great marketing is all about finding a win-win option.

Gmail vs. Constant Contact

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So Gmail vs. Constant Contact – I had a good friend ask which they should be using.

It seems they had someone question their use of Gmail in their business.constant-contact-share-logo

They had been told that Gmail was bad and Constant Contact was good. My view is that person did not really know exactly what they were talking about – as they are different tools, although both do use email.

Gmail is simply an online general purpose email program – very robust, VERY secure (if your password is secure) and full of great features.

I checked the CC website just to confirm that they had not changed since I last used them (I have had a few clients used CC).

Constant Contact is an email autoresponder and list management tool. IT does not do general email duties (well not easily – not designed for that).

CC does a great job (better than Gmail) at managing a list of contacts, sending out emails to that list, sending out newsletters, and doing automated email functions.

Since they are different tools, I would say that you could use them both – if needed.

Don’t stop using Gmail and if it serves your purpose, keep using it.

If you need more email automation (sign-ups from your website, regular newsletters or automated emails going out to your list) then CC is a great tool.

Although I would persgmail-logoonally recommend MailChimp for my clients (second choice would be Aweber, third choice Constant Contact – but just my preference).