The real secret to small business success has doesn’t have to do with technology tools, the internet, or anything like that. In fact, it’s not even a real secret. It’s been around since man started to verbalize communiqué. The secret is WORDS!
Words carry enormous power. They can make you laugh hysterically, or destroy the strongest relationship. Words can be more powerful than any other tool at your disposal.
T effective use of words, especially in business, translates into skyrocketing sales, satisfied clients, happy employees, and a profitable and secure future. Yet, less than 1% of small entrepreneur businesses use words to their full potential.
The power of words can be learned and used effectively by anyone, and when you harness and unleash this power, there’s nothing on this earth that can stop you. This art of using words is what is called copy writing. It makes or breaks your sales and advertising material. A true word smith can forge the most potent of copy for their site.
One of the ways an “amateur” copywriter, one who is writing for her own product or business, can beat the experienced pro is by infusing the sales letter or ad with her own, honest, genuine, and unmitigated enthusiasm. When selling in online, enthusiasm is just as important as in face-to-face selling.
This is why you can’t just sit down and write an ad “on command”, like you can sit down and do bookkeeping. You have to muster up some enthusiasm for the job and the proposition you’re putting across.
If I’m going to write an ad or some other sales material the first thing in the morning, as I often do, I try to set my subconscious mind to work on that job before I go to bed the night before. There are times when I wake up with the “big idea” that I need and other times I wake up with some ideas and a readiness to write them down and pick and choose which ones I want to use.
Don’t force yourself to “grind out” direct-response copy when you really don’t feel like it because the result will be flat and mechanical. It may be technically correct with a headline, subheads, bullet points, an offer, etc., but it will lack spirit and enthusiasm.
5/10/08
7 Steps to Creating a Successful Small Business Marketing Plan
Small business marketing is all about determining the needs of your target market and then providing solutions to meet those needs. These 7 steps are aimed at entrepreneurs starting a small business and those who want to create a successful small business marketing plan for an existing business.
Most small business promotions focus on how great their products and services are. Instead, you should educate your target market consistently and start building a relationship that will establish your credibility and trust. It is important to develop a marketing mindset. "Think Marketing" your products and services all of the time. It is very important to consistently market your products and services.
Don't fall into the trap of stop and go marketing. Some small business owners only market when sales are down.
You can't have a successful small business without having a successful small business marketing plan. Effective small business marketing is the way to growth and profits. If you're a small business owner or you want to know how to start a small business in the future, this simple 7-step plan will help you understand your business and your target market.
How to Start a Small Business Marketing Plan: 7 Steps Begin the process by answering these questions:
1) Who -- Who specifically is your target market? Who is your ideal client? What research can you do to find out more about your target market?
2) What -- What products and services do your ideal clients want and need? What does your product and service do for your ideal client? What problems does your product solve for your customer? What are the solutions that your ideal client is looking for? What is your area of specialty that will differentiate you in the marketplace? What are the industry trends? What type of message will your ideal client likely respond to? What are you ultimately selling? For example: Are you selling eye glasses or are you selling vision? What is your unique mix of products and services? What is your pricing strategy?
3) Where -- Where is your ideal client? Where is your customer located geographically? Where will you position yourself so they can easily find you? Where are the best places to get your marketing message to them? Will you speak to groups, hold seminars, or write a blog, newsletters or articles?
4) When -- How frequently does your target market need to hear your marketing message? When are they most likely to buy your products and services?
5) Why -- Why are you in business? Why do customers or clients buy from you? Why should they choose your product or service over your competition?
6) How -- How does your customer buy your product or service? How are you going to reach potential buyers for your services and products? How will you communicate your marketing message? How will you provide customers or clients with the information they need to make their buying decision?
7) Marketing Mindset – Practice mastering a Marketing Mindset and you will be on the path to a profitable small business.
Most small business promotions focus on how great their products and services are. Instead, you should educate your target market consistently and start building a relationship that will establish your credibility and trust. It is important to develop a marketing mindset. "Think Marketing" your products and services all of the time. It is very important to consistently market your products and services.
Don't fall into the trap of stop and go marketing. Some small business owners only market when sales are down.
You can't have a successful small business without having a successful small business marketing plan. Effective small business marketing is the way to growth and profits. If you're a small business owner or you want to know how to start a small business in the future, this simple 7-step plan will help you understand your business and your target market.
How to Start a Small Business Marketing Plan: 7 Steps Begin the process by answering these questions:
1) Who -- Who specifically is your target market? Who is your ideal client? What research can you do to find out more about your target market?
2) What -- What products and services do your ideal clients want and need? What does your product and service do for your ideal client? What problems does your product solve for your customer? What are the solutions that your ideal client is looking for? What is your area of specialty that will differentiate you in the marketplace? What are the industry trends? What type of message will your ideal client likely respond to? What are you ultimately selling? For example: Are you selling eye glasses or are you selling vision? What is your unique mix of products and services? What is your pricing strategy?
3) Where -- Where is your ideal client? Where is your customer located geographically? Where will you position yourself so they can easily find you? Where are the best places to get your marketing message to them? Will you speak to groups, hold seminars, or write a blog, newsletters or articles?
4) When -- How frequently does your target market need to hear your marketing message? When are they most likely to buy your products and services?
5) Why -- Why are you in business? Why do customers or clients buy from you? Why should they choose your product or service over your competition?
6) How -- How does your customer buy your product or service? How are you going to reach potential buyers for your services and products? How will you communicate your marketing message? How will you provide customers or clients with the information they need to make their buying decision?
7) Marketing Mindset – Practice mastering a Marketing Mindset and you will be on the path to a profitable small business.
A Successful Recipe For Accountability In Your Small Business
Accountability is a buzzword in the business world right now. Unfortunately, most of us have negative understanding of the word. We often use the word as if it means blame and punishment. Therefore, we attempt to avoid it. The truth is that accountability is unavoidable. In the workplace, intrinsically everyone is accountable to someone. We are accountable to our peers, managers, customers and ownership.
We are also accountable to our industry.
What if being accountable was empowering for you and your employees?
Research indicates that rather than a negative force, holding people accountable for their actions and results has very positive effects on morale and performance.
An environment of accountability produces vigilant problem solving, better decision-making, and greater job satisfaction.
With an environment of accountability, people can develop their skills and be their best. The issue I see with accountability is not the absence of accountability in business. Accountability exists regardless. The issue is how we think of and understand accountability and the environment under which accountability can thrive. Consider these definitions of accountability:
• Accountability is a state of responsiveness.
• To be called on to render an account.
• Subject to giving an account.
• Non–judgmental feed back (Accountability is no place for judgment, blame or punishment). Here are some areas to troubleshoot in your workplace:
• Ambiguity is the enemy of accountability, so your first step, as a manager is to make sure that the people you are holding accountability have very clearly defined roles, job descriptions and duties.
• Accountability is an attitude so look at yourself as the role model. Are you being accountable to your boss, ownership, your employees and clients?
•Do you have written expectations? Starting at the time of hire, if possible, review written expectations and standards of performance. You cannot expect something from someone who has not had the opportunity to buy into the expectation.
• Do you have Permission; either implied or granted.
• Do they have training? You cannot hold someone accountable to something they are not been trained to do!
• Do your employees have a working plan - a project timeline, an economic model etc?
• Have I created a learning based environment? Is it okay to make a mistake or say, “I don’t know?” Know it alls do not make good coaches nor are they coach-able. Creating a safe environment for mistakes encourages accountability.
• Are there real consequences? Consequences work best when spelled out before actually needed, in expectations for example.
• Do your employees have the talent and ability? Some people will not have the ability to do the job you are asking them to do regardless of having a well-defined role, a great manager and excellent training.
• Accountability is an attitude that you as leader will want to model; focus on being accountable rather than holding others accountable.
We are also accountable to our industry.
What if being accountable was empowering for you and your employees?
Research indicates that rather than a negative force, holding people accountable for their actions and results has very positive effects on morale and performance.
An environment of accountability produces vigilant problem solving, better decision-making, and greater job satisfaction.
With an environment of accountability, people can develop their skills and be their best. The issue I see with accountability is not the absence of accountability in business. Accountability exists regardless. The issue is how we think of and understand accountability and the environment under which accountability can thrive. Consider these definitions of accountability:
• Accountability is a state of responsiveness.
• To be called on to render an account.
• Subject to giving an account.
• Non–judgmental feed back (Accountability is no place for judgment, blame or punishment). Here are some areas to troubleshoot in your workplace:
• Ambiguity is the enemy of accountability, so your first step, as a manager is to make sure that the people you are holding accountability have very clearly defined roles, job descriptions and duties.
• Accountability is an attitude so look at yourself as the role model. Are you being accountable to your boss, ownership, your employees and clients?
•Do you have written expectations? Starting at the time of hire, if possible, review written expectations and standards of performance. You cannot expect something from someone who has not had the opportunity to buy into the expectation.
• Do you have Permission; either implied or granted.
• Do they have training? You cannot hold someone accountable to something they are not been trained to do!
• Do your employees have a working plan - a project timeline, an economic model etc?
• Have I created a learning based environment? Is it okay to make a mistake or say, “I don’t know?” Know it alls do not make good coaches nor are they coach-able. Creating a safe environment for mistakes encourages accountability.
• Are there real consequences? Consequences work best when spelled out before actually needed, in expectations for example.
• Do your employees have the talent and ability? Some people will not have the ability to do the job you are asking them to do regardless of having a well-defined role, a great manager and excellent training.
• Accountability is an attitude that you as leader will want to model; focus on being accountable rather than holding others accountable.
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