Marketing Professionals or Consultants sometimes do a dis-service to the industry and
themselves and businesses if they openly state … or even allude … that Marketing success
is easy. It’s not. Nor is any business … Anyone who says different is not being wholly honest.
I find that to be a shame. And it shouldn’t happen.

Marketing requires 3 main ingredients….time, effort, and money.

Time is just a matter of redirecting your habits. Not easy but doable. Time directly impacts
your efficiency. And that’s even if you have someone else do your Marketing for you.
Effort is entirely controllable by the individual … and directly impacts your effectiveness.
Money is self limiting and directly affects both efficiency and effectiveness. An individual
must find the best combination of the three that works for them. Someone else
can’t tell you what that combination is, but can maybe help you find it.

Businesses today face a daunting task, (and competition), when it comes to “Marketing”…
Finding that “best combination” of time, effort and money is a growth experience. Rarely
will it just appear. Education (self & provided) plus mentoring (if available) are important
factors and hopefully a fact of life. However, successful Marketing is not impossible.

In my mind, Marketing is whatever method you choose to “reach” people. It might be the
traditional newspaper ad, or postcard, or the simple greeting and sharing with a friend.
How you “Market” or “share” can take many forms.

There are many methods that help and work.
It’s a matter of finding those that work for you.

For example:

Blogging is an excellent method. It requires time & effort. The benefits include increased
link popularity for the url used, (important for search engine ranking), branding, and reach.
Plus, it can be viral. Often your blog is archived or saved by viewers … available well after
it was originally offered. Plus viewers may often “contact you” because of your expertise …
again, well after you originally submitted it. Sometimes a year later in many cases.

Business cards are always a good method … and more inexpensive than one realizes.
You can even make your own. Just pass them out like candy … stores, church, ball games,
local events, restaurants (leave 1 with your bill), businesses you frequent, networking
meetings, local Chamber Of Commerce. The possibilities are only limited by your
imagination. And today, some are digital. All you need is your cell phone, then share.

Flyers, posters, post cards, brochures, etc. can also be done very inexpensively.
You can make your own on your PC or purchase custom or ready made ones from
numerous online providers. You could even strike up a joint venture with a local
community provider. They print it for you and include their “advertisement” somewhere …
you distribute. You both win, you pay less, and maybe influence that partner to be
involved in your business.

Web decals on your vehicle(s) is another inexpensive method. Some have one on
their car or truck (back window) with a short “catch line” and maybe a URL.
Visibly, it could be priceless.

Newspaper/magazine ads can be found that aren’t going to cost an arm and a leg.
Local publications are a good place to start. There are excellent sources locally online.
But, for those in tune with everything and all “digital”, you can reach a lot more people
in a short amount of time with that.

These are just a few examples.

Of course there are the traditional ways, lead programs, magazines, radio, have a wonderful
store, the “3 foot rule”, etc. Most of these will cost you money … all will cost you time & effort.
But, it’s the Digital marketing world, that has taken Marketing to a new place. You should think
about getting in the game if you haven’t already. Your competition probably is, and that is a
very unfair advantage over you.

The key, I believe, is in being creative and sticking to what best fits your time, effort, and
money combination. It is and should be a personal choice. If the dollar “cost” doesn’t give you
the dollar “value” in your own mind, then keep looking, and keep asking. Don’t EVER stop.

Plus … diversify. Use multiple methods. Why limit yourself to just “one path”?

We don’t just help those willing to spend $1,000’s … We help a modest amount of
businesses and professionals who are interested in growing their business or brand
any way they can. Don’t be mislead with false expectations or be pressured into
uncomfortable actions or just winging it with a bunch of fancy expensive bundled
products or services. Learn or discover solutions that best fit your budget,
your expectations and your abilities in your chosen business.

It is simple, but it isn’t easy … I think that captures it pretty well … That’s the message.
It’s not hard to understand … It can be fun, but it does take some effort and some time.
In Marketing your business or brand, please don’t think you can sit on the couch with
beer & potato chips watching your favorite TV shows or sport events, though … the money
can’t roll in all by itself. You have to be involved, whether you are doing it, or someone else is.

In my mind (OK…my opinion), that’s the message you should receive from a
Marketing Consultant. We care about your success …
And we are upfront, transparent, and honest.

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