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Member You - Marketing Mistakes for Entrepreneurs to Avoid
There's an old saying that if a person works at a job or career that they find unfulfilling, they're simply trading time for money. And since time is our most precious resource, your really have to ask yourself if it's a worthwhile trade.Have a look at this scenario: a person drags themselves out of out of bed on Monday morning, pumps themselves full of coffee, and then drives to their
9. Out of date customer lists
Your current customers are in the accounting system, your holiday card list is in Excel, your prospects are in Outlook and your former customers are in the f
Determining what price to charge for your services can be difficult, especially when initially starting your business. With home businesses ranging from landscape contractors to massage therapists, writers to caterers, pricing your services are unique to your particular industry. However, there are some common things all small business owners should do before setting their prices.1) Know your
1. Trying to sell everything to everybody
Trying to do everything is a prescription for a marketing disaster. Being the best requires commitment and focus. Pick that one thing and pass on the rest.
2. Cost-based pricing
Most small firms don’t have a good handle on cost accounting and they invariably underestimate their costs. If pricing is cost-based, the end result is often under priced products. Instead, price on perceived value. This is pricing which reflects the potential savings, the highest satisfaction level, or the maximum use that a client will receive from the purchase and the use of the product or service.
3. Inconsistent branding
Your business cards say one thing, your website say something else, and your brochures tell yet another story. Branding is a promise of value which requires consistency. Tell one story only.
4. Over reliance on one big customer
Many small companies become hostage to one large customer. When that customer goes away, your firm is toast. How big is too big? I suggest no bigger than 25% of annual sales. Take care of this important customer, but focus your marketing dollars on finding some other customers. Do it now.
5. Selling product and features
People don’t buy products and features. They buy solutions to their problems. It is not about you. It is all about them.
6. No market research
Many successful entrepreneurs rely on their “gut” and experience to make strategic decisions. That may be a good compass, but take the time to verify your assumptions with market research; sometimes your instincts are wrong.
7. Not giving things time to succeed
Building a brand and selling customers takes time and money. Set conservative goals and make sure you have funds available to promote new products; you might get lucky, but generally success is hard earned.
8. Lousy websites
Dead links, out-of-date content, and old web designs will drive your customers away. Websites need to be refreshed constantly with new rich content and you need to maintain your site’s optimization for the major search engines. This is a requirement of doing business in virtually all industries today.
9. Out of date customer lists
Your current customers are in the accounting system, your holiday card list is in Excel, your prospects are in Outlook and your former customers are in the f
There are several methods of advertising on the Internet. Some are free, some are low cost, while others are insanely expensive. The first thing you will need to look at is how much you are willing to pay for traffic, and how far your advertising dollar can go.Let’s say you have got a great idea, and your website is now complete. You are ready to open for business but where are your customers
3. Inconsistent branding
Your business cards say one thing, your website say something else, and your brochures tell yet another story. Branding is a promise of value which requires consistency. Tell one story only.
4. Over reliance on one big customer
Many small companies become hostage to one large customer. When that customer goes away, your firm is toast. How big is too big? I suggest no bigger than 25% of annual sales. Take care of this important customer, but focus your marketing dollars on finding some other customers. Do it now.
5. Selling product and features
People don’t buy products and features. They buy solutions to their problems. It is not about you. It is all about them.
6. No market research
Many successful entrepreneurs rely on their “gut” and experience to make strategic decisions. That may be a good compass, but take the time to verify your assumptions with market research; sometimes your instincts are wrong.
7. Not giving things time to succeed
Building a brand and selling customers takes time and money. Set conservative goals and make sure you have funds available to promote new products; you might get lucky, but generally success is hard earned.
8. Lousy websites
Dead links, out-of-date content, and old web designs will drive your customers away. Websites need to be refreshed constantly with new rich content and you need to maintain your site’s optimization for the major search engines. This is a requirement of doing business in virtually all industries today.
9. Out of date customer lists
Your current customers are in the accounting system, your holiday card list is in Excel, your prospects are in Outlook and your former customers are in the f
We are coming up to the end of the year and the time when many of us look to clean out the clutter in the office. It may be just to fill the time during the slow holiday week but it can also be an opportunity to practice good document retention practices. Most offices have a retention policy for official company records, i.e. tax returns, employee files and bank statements. These documents
Many small companies become hostage to one large customer. When that customer goes away, your firm is toast. How big is too big? I suggest no bigger than 25% of annual sales. Take care of this important customer, but focus your marketing dollars on finding some other customers. Do it now.
5. Selling product and features
People don’t buy products and features. They buy solutions to their problems. It is not about you. It is all about them.
6. No market research
Many successful entrepreneurs rely on their “gut” and experience to make strategic decisions. That may be a good compass, but take the time to verify your assumptions with market research; sometimes your instincts are wrong.
7. Not giving things time to succeed
Building a brand and selling customers takes time and money. Set conservative goals and make sure you have funds available to promote new products; you might get lucky, but generally success is hard earned.
8. Lousy websites
Dead links, out-of-date content, and old web designs will drive your customers away. Websites need to be refreshed constantly with new rich content and you need to maintain your site’s optimization for the major search engines. This is a requirement of doing business in virtually all industries today.
9. Out of date customer lists
Your current customers are in the accounting system, your holiday card list is in Excel, your prospects are in Outlook and your former customers are in the f
Are you experiencing career burnout; Does it bother you that you simply do not care one way or the other what happens at work, you just do your job because they pay you and then go home and try to forget about it? Well then you need to get back into the zone in your career. When I say getting back into the zone, yes I am referring to the sports connotation of being in the zone, where you are literal
7. Not giving things time to succeed
Building a brand and selling customers takes time and money. Set conservative goals and make sure you have funds available to promote new products; you might get lucky, but generally success is hard earned.
8. Lousy websites
Dead links, out-of-date content, and old web designs will drive your customers away. Websites need to be refreshed constantly with new rich content and you need to maintain your site’s optimization for the major search engines. This is a requirement of doing business in virtually all industries today.
9. Out of date customer lists
Your current customers are in the accounting system, your holiday card list is in Excel, your prospects are in Outlook and your former customers are in the f
Though various reasons are attributed for starting a business the main reason without any doubt is to make money. People who start a business know very well that they can never become rich by working for someone else all life long.To start a business and run it successfully, a range of essential entrepreneurial skills are necessary. If success is what you are after, then it stands to reason t
9. Out of date customer lists
Your current customers are in the accounting system, your holiday card list is in Excel, your prospects are in Outlook and your former customers are in the file cabinet. Your customer list should be treated like a treasure chest. Keep this list meticulously updated in one file and back it up. Let me repeat: back it up.
10. Not updating your marketing plan- Even good marketing plans need to be updated. Things are changing quickly. The promise of internet advertising is finally coming true. The yellow pages are dead. We have entered an era of personalization. One size does not fit all anymore. Review your plan quarterly and update annually.
John Bradley Jackson
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Please visit my website at http://www.firstbestordifferent.com
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