Marketing & Money

The truth about money and marketing has been muddled by corporations heaving huge sums of money at T.V. and print ads. It has caused non-profits and small businesses to think that they can't "do marketing" because they don't have big dollars to spend. The truth is that if you are not marketing your business, you're dying. And on a deeper level, spending huge amounts of money on T.V. and print ads is an old paradigm that really is not relevant any longer. If you want to succeed in marketing your business, it does require spending money--but not the amount you would think if you're carrying an old paradigm about what marketing means. The real truth about money and marketing is that you can spend millions and fail because you have no idea about how your clients get their information and how people want to be communicated with. Knowing how and where to speak to your clients is in fact the most important equation in successful marketing. One really smart and funny video on a social media site could do more for your business than spending thousands on a cheesy T.V. ad that in the end makes you just look lame. In this age of design and technology, being smart is better than being rich. Money is important, but not the most important equation in successful marketing. I am working on a series of blogs on how to market your business on a limited budget. I hate even saying the words "limited budget" because it really is not about money, it's about so many other things. It's time you and I discovered that new paradigm when it comes to money and marketing. Stay tuned for more--it's going to rock your world....(paradigm)

Never fear the small begining-be a bootstrapper

We are all afraid of the big machines that run most of corporate America, the big guys who are spending millions marketing to your clients. The real truth is that the lean and mean may have a real advantage in today's market. Technology has truly leveled the playing field. Here are some words of encouragement for all of us who are "bootstrappers", which Seth Godin calls his "Bootstrappers Manifesto". Tape it to your bathroom mirror and read it every night before going to bed.
1. I am a bootstrapper. I have initiative and insight and guts, but not much money. I will succeed because my efforts and my focus will defeat bigger and better-funded competitors. I am fearless. I keep my focus on growing the business—not on politics, career advancement, or other wasteful distractions. 2. I am the underdog. I realize that others are rooting for me to succeed, and I will gratefully accept their help when offered. I also understand the power of favors, and will offer them and grant them whenever I can. 3. I have less to lose than most -- a fact I can turn into a significant competitive advantage. 4. I am a salesperson. Sooner or later, my income will depend on sales, and those sales can be made only by me, not by an emissary, not by a rep. I will sell by helping others get what they want, by identifying needs and fulfilling them. 5. I am a guerrilla. I will be persistent, consistent, and willing to invest in the marketing of myself and my business. 6. My secret weapon is knowing how to cut through bureaucracy. My size makes me faster and more nimble than any company could ever be. 7. Surviving is succeeding, and each day that goes by makes it easier still for me to reach my goals. The real game of being a marketing success depends not on your size but on your creativity and passion. Stay in the game! And read your bootstrappers manifesto every day. YOU can do this--don't give up!