I know that you think this post is going to be all about statistics, graphs and metrics – it’s not!

That doesn’t tell you why your marketing is working or not, it only tells you what isn’t and why is so much more important!

The truth is – and many people will not tell you this – your marketing either works or not because of you. What you’re thinking, what you’re doing, why you are doing it and how often you are doing it.

1. You think more about the money you are going to make – without giving consideration to how you’re actually going to make it. Big mistake on so many levels. First of all, unless you have prepared a roadmap to your goals how are you ever going to find your way there? Secondly, if all you are thinking about is money and you are not doing something you are passionate about, you will lose momentum. It is passion that drives our goal seeking momentum.
2. You haven’t thought about your customers needs. We get this all the time, clients who say but I want this on my website (when they really, really shouldn’t), I need this to happen, I like it better this way – marketing is NOT about you. There is no point marketing to yourself you won’t make any money that way and you will not have an audience for your passion either. Your market is everyone who is not you. You need to find out what your customer or client wants and then find a way to give it to them.
3. You blindly believe that every one is a potential customer. This means you have not thought about your demographic – in other words who are you selling to, who is your market? Another mistake we see all the time is our clients trying to make their website and their product or service meet all needs. This is an impossibility so now is the time for research, research, research into who your customer is, what they like, what they are saying, what they are buying and what are their unmet needs.
4. You think marketing is easy and you have decided you are an expert, because after all anyone can do it. Hmmm.. that one speaks for itself.
5. You believe that marketing is advertising… again that one speaks for itself.
6. You have no idea what your desired marketing outcomes are for your business or your website. Did you know that each page on your site should have its own outcome? Perhaps most importantly a call to action.
7. You know your business really well, but don’t know how to be in business. I see this a lot, lovely people who have worked in a field for a long time, who know how it should be done right who have no idea how to run it as a business. They struggle with the small things like how to tell clients and prospects about what they do, or bring in customers for their business.
8. You have no idea what your ’super power’ is, also known as a 45 second elevator pitch. This relates to #7 as well.
9. You have never actually listened to what your customers and clients have to say about your product or service, you use the same pitch you always have. Listening to feedback about your business is so important, it can tell you what your marketing should say. Giving your clients and customers what they want means finding out what it is about your business they find valuable and enhancing that, and using it as a marketing pitch of course.
10. You have no idea what Social Media Marketing is and when you find out, you discard the notion as not worth your time.
11. You never think outside the square, after all business is serious stuff. If you ever want one of your videos or ads to go viral thinking outside the square is a pre-requisite.
12. You don’t use video as a promotional tool, you don’t use video as a way to connect with your clients or customers. You think video is too “Techie” and for younger people.
13. You think a live web cast is over the top and there is no way that is going to help your business grow anyway.
14. You think a ‘pretty’ website is all you need.
15. You’re thinking “My marketing isn’t going to work now that I have read this post.”

Maybe, it is time to review your marketing plan (if you have one)…

© 2009, AnnieInfinite. All rights reserved.

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Post tags: Business, Marketing, Marketing and Advertising, Marketing plan, Promotion, Website

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