Does Your Marketing Need an Upgrade? Part 2 of 2

Does Your Marketing Need an Upgrade? Part 2 of 2

Too many times, those who finally find their rhythm in marketing make the mistake of sticking with something because it’s comfortable and familiar instead of upgrading to something that’s potentially more effective. You will miss out on benefits and business opportunities if you avoid making changes. Check out 3 other tell-tale signs to let you know it’s time to tweak your marketing.

4. You learn something new about what your customers value -Don’t assume you know what your customers like or what they’re willing to pay for. The easiest way to learn what they value is to test, test, test. If you’ve been toiling with the idea to add a coaching program as a follow up to your professional organizing services, then launch a pilot and more importantly began to highlight and market the benefits that a change in the mindset can bring to staying organized.

 

5. Your business climate or environment changes – My comrades here in New Orleans know a little something about changing business climates. Truthfully, sometimes change comes for the better. The greatest mistake is to note the change in the climate and ignore the impact on your business. For example, How does the climate affect the attitudes of your customers and their buying habits? What’s the new ‘pain-point’ or issue that are on people’s minds? Here in New Orleans, the most common marketing messages involve the concepts of rebuilding, getting better and doing better for ourselves. It’s one of solidarity and unity. These messages permeate most marketing material, to not understand this and operate in this market could be a huge mistake.

6. You are ready for a change – Perhaps you’ve realized that most of these signs are  due to outside forces – your customers, the environment, etc.  But this final idea is really all about you. As solo-prenueurs and small business owners, who and what you are is just as critical as what you do and sell. Likewise, in marketing yourself and/or your business, you must also embrace the label. For this reason, oftentimes business owners feel a change is needed so that their marketing better fits their lifestyle or a new-found purpose, or simply because their gut says so.  Although I offer research and numbers in my consulting practice to help business owners make decisions – there is a missing link that cannot  be underestimated (or sometimes even understood) – that is that inner voice that says it’s just right – what I’m calling your gut.  After you’ve counted the cost, done your homework and made your plan, the gut is the final check. And sometimes, just sometimes, I believe we need that unthinking part  to push us into the uncharted waters where our breakthrough awaits.