Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Casual Articles - It's A Lot Like Spinach Stuck Between Your Teeth – How Can You Tell You Need Marketing & Design Help
China Electronics Trading Potential
The opening of China to international trade resulted in myriad trading opportunities such as China electronics importation and trading. This fact has been proven several times by some enterprising individuals. If you are interested in starting your own electronics store in your neighborhood or online, you should seriously consider jumping into the China electronics bandwagon. The latest product out there: a superb car dvd player.The benefits of importing electronics from China are manifold. The main benefit comes from the low prices. Chinese costs of production are also much lower than production costs at in the United States. The disparity, which could be as high as fifty percent and no less than twenty percent, translates to very low prices of China electronics.Quality is not an issue, either. China electronics are actually technologically advanced and their people are quickly closing the gap on other areas where they have not yet gained ascendancy. China is producing over 200,000 engineers every year. Furthermore, they are benefiting from technology transfer that is a natural consequence of the penchant of American and European manufacturers to outsource to China.Furthermore, consumer reception of electronics from China will not be a problem. American consumers are, in fact, hungry for quality China electronics which can be bought for so much cheaper than local brands.If you want wish to import C
; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.The opening of China to international trade resulted in myriad trading opportunities such as China electronics importation and trading. This fact has been proven several times by some enterprising individuals. If you are interested in starting your own electronics store in your neighborhood or online, you should seriously consider jumping into the China electronics bandwagon. The latest product out there: a superb car dvd player.The benefits of importing electronics from China are manifold. The main benefit comes from the low prices. Chinese costs of production are also much lower than production costs at in the United States. The disparity, which could be as high as fifty percent and no less than twenty percent, translates to very low prices of China electronics.Quality is not an issue, either. China electronics are actually technologically advanced and their people are quickly closing the gap on other areas where they have not yet gained ascendancy. China is producing over 200,000 engineers every year. Furthermore, they are benefiting from technology transfer that is a natural consequence of the penchant of American and European manufacturers to outsource to China.Furthermore, consumer reception of electronics from China will not be a problem. American consumers are, in fact, hungry for quality China electronics which can be bought for so much cheaper than local brands.If you want wish to import C
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are stil
Sarbanes-Oxley IP Asset Compliance Is Not Easy, But It's Required To Avoid Stiff Penalties
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed on July 2002 and many public companies in the US have been implementing compliance procedures since then.Unlike other business standards, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires a more detailed disclosure in its filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on everything that might affect a company’s business and financial performance.The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that public companies use well established "disclosure controls and procedures" for all intellectual property (IP) assets so this vital information is first presented to the management of that company well before it’s revealed to the SEC. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act also requires these procedures to be evaluated quarterly to ensure that outdated and ineffective procedures are removed and new ones implemented for better efficiency.At the moment the Sarbanes Oxley Act does not actually define the steps a public company should specifically take in order to ensure complete compliance with the Act. As a result most public companies are usually left in a bit of a quandary.A big hurdle for companies is to fully inventory their Intellectual Property Assets (IP assets). Intellectual Property rights in themselves are a quagmire of regulations and laws and since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires all IP assets to be help accountable to the SEC this usually causes a big problem. Going further, it is not often an easy matter to determin
Having a bad marketing strategy or business image is a lot like a piece of spinach wedged in your teeth, a bad-comb over or leaving your fly open – everyone sees it, it looks bad, but no one will tell you to your face. It’s tough to know when you look good and when you need a little help. Your business image is no different. So how can you tell when you might need marketing and design help? Just as seeing a piece of spinach in your teeth in the mirror, the answer is often found through self-analysis. Looking at your competition, your prospects and your image are a great place to start. You owe it to yourself and your success to take some time to reflect on where you are, where you want to go and how you might get there.The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed on July 2002 and many public companies in the US have been implementing compliance procedures since then.Unlike other business standards, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires a more detailed disclosure in its filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on everything that might affect a company’s business and financial performance.The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that public companies use well established "disclosure controls and procedures" for all intellectual property (IP) assets so this vital information is first presented to the management of that company well before it’s revealed to the SEC. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act also requires these procedures to be evaluated quarterly to ensure that outdated and ineffective procedures are removed and new ones implemented for better efficiency.At the moment the Sarbanes Oxley Act does not actually define the steps a public company should specifically take in order to ensure complete compliance with the Act. As a result most public companies are usually left in a bit of a quandary.A big hurdle for companies is to fully inventory their Intellectual Property Assets (IP assets). Intellectual Property rights in themselves are a quagmire of regulations and laws and since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires all IP assets to be help accountable to the SEC this usually causes a big problem. Going further, it is not often an easy matter to determin
So do you need marketing and design help? Let’s find out…
Price War:
Does it always feel like you have to compete on price? That’s tough, isn’t it? If this is the case for you, you’re not alone, I’ve found this to be a major challenge for most companies – those companies almost always desperately need marketing and design help. Here’s what happens: when customers aren’t educated on the value and benefits that they want from a professional in your industry they have difficulty evaluating which person is the best. So they evaluate professionals on something that can measure – price. You see, marketing’s first objective is to identify the value and benefit your customers want, then it should convey that value and benefit in a way that compels customers to respond and react. If there’s no perceived difference among you and your competition, customers will just rely on price when shopping.
Do you fully understand your customers’ needs and wants?
Do you know how to convey the value they want in a way that’s compelling to them?
If you answered “no”, you’re losing out on loads of customers and you need marketing and design help.
Find Out How You Stack Up:
Gather some of your competition’s collateral materials (logo, business card, advertisements, brochure, web site, etc). Ask yourself, “How does my business stack up with the rest of the field?” “Do you look like an expert compared to the rest of your competition?” Here’s what you need to understand: whether we recognize it or not, our collateral materials directly and immediately convey to prospects an image of expertise and quality. By visiting your web site, seeing an ad, or receiving a business card, your prospect is already evaluating whether or not you care about quality and whether or notnyou’re an expert in your field. If your prospects don’t perceive that you are an expert and care about quality, you’ve already got two strikes against you.
How do prospects perceive your commitment to quality and expertise compared to the rest of your industry? How is that affecting your sales? If you don’t look like an expert, and that’s something that’s important to you, you might want to look into marketing and design help.
To really find out where you stand, ask your prospects what they think about your marketing materials (make sure you recruit people that will give you a straight answer).
Take a Self Confidence Evaluation:
Have you ever told someone that your business image (cards, logo, web site, etc…) was temporary and that you we’re going to get it “fixed” later? Do you feel sheepish or apprehensive when showing or directing a prospect to some of your company’s marketing material? Do you avoid networking situations because your marketing and image don’t really show how good your business really is? Could you do a better job in promoting your company if your image was unique and eye-catching? Would you feel better about your business if you had a professional image?
If you’ve answered “yes”, you’ll want to contact a marketing and design expert. Not only do you need help, you probably want help as well.
Are You Insane?
Small business owners are a great bunch of people; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are still
Private Label Products: Trend For The Best?
Lately, private label products have made a tremendous impact on the U.S. market, affecting almost everyone, from producers to retailers to consumers. Private label products are products whose name or brand solely belongs to a specific retailer (e.g. Wal-Mart and Marks & Spencer). Let’s say that you’re in a grocery store. At first you see all those gourmet sandwiches with brands that have long been familiar to you. Then you go to Marks & Spencer and lo and behold, now they’re selling the same type of sandwiches too!Private label products have grown significantly in Europe, especially in the Western half, and now it’s making its mark in the United States. Private labels can be divided into sub groups: store brands are products where the retailer’s name is a strong factor in its packaging and marketing aspects; store sub-brands are products whose connection to the retailer is minimal; umbrella branding is a strategy where a retailer uses only one private label for different product categories and finally there are individual brands in which one private label is accorded to one product type.The advantages are of course numerous, to all key persons involved. For the retailer, one of the most obvious pros would be the increase in sales. And since it’s their own private label, the retailer then has the freedom to create its own marketing strategy, have more control over its stock inventory and possibly use it also to gain a more positive
anies almost always desperately need marketing and design help. Here’s what happens: when customers aren’t educated on the value and benefits that they want from a professional in your industry they have difficulty evaluating which person is the best. So they evaluate professionals on something that can measure – price. You see, marketing’s first objective is to identify the value and benefit your customers want, then it should convey that value and benefit in a way that compels customers to respond and react. If there’s no perceived difference among you and your competition, customers will just rely on price when shopping.Lately, private label products have made a tremendous impact on the U.S. market, affecting almost everyone, from producers to retailers to consumers. Private label products are products whose name or brand solely belongs to a specific retailer (e.g. Wal-Mart and Marks & Spencer). Let’s say that you’re in a grocery store. At first you see all those gourmet sandwiches with brands that have long been familiar to you. Then you go to Marks & Spencer and lo and behold, now they’re selling the same type of sandwiches too!Private label products have grown significantly in Europe, especially in the Western half, and now it’s making its mark in the United States. Private labels can be divided into sub groups: store brands are products where the retailer’s name is a strong factor in its packaging and marketing aspects; store sub-brands are products whose connection to the retailer is minimal; umbrella branding is a strategy where a retailer uses only one private label for different product categories and finally there are individual brands in which one private label is accorded to one product type.The advantages are of course numerous, to all key persons involved. For the retailer, one of the most obvious pros would be the increase in sales. And since it’s their own private label, the retailer then has the freedom to create its own marketing strategy, have more control over its stock inventory and possibly use it also to gain a more positive
Do you fully understand your customers’ needs and wants?
Do you know how to convey the value they want in a way that’s compelling to them?
If you answered “no”, you’re losing out on loads of customers and you need marketing and design help.
Find Out How You Stack Up:
Gather some of your competition’s collateral materials (logo, business card, advertisements, brochure, web site, etc). Ask yourself, “How does my business stack up with the rest of the field?” “Do you look like an expert compared to the rest of your competition?” Here’s what you need to understand: whether we recognize it or not, our collateral materials directly and immediately convey to prospects an image of expertise and quality. By visiting your web site, seeing an ad, or receiving a business card, your prospect is already evaluating whether or not you care about quality and whether or notnyou’re an expert in your field. If your prospects don’t perceive that you are an expert and care about quality, you’ve already got two strikes against you.
How do prospects perceive your commitment to quality and expertise compared to the rest of your industry? How is that affecting your sales? If you don’t look like an expert, and that’s something that’s important to you, you might want to look into marketing and design help.
To really find out where you stand, ask your prospects what they think about your marketing materials (make sure you recruit people that will give you a straight answer).
Take a Self Confidence Evaluation:
Have you ever told someone that your business image (cards, logo, web site, etc…) was temporary and that you we’re going to get it “fixed” later? Do you feel sheepish or apprehensive when showing or directing a prospect to some of your company’s marketing material? Do you avoid networking situations because your marketing and image don’t really show how good your business really is? Could you do a better job in promoting your company if your image was unique and eye-catching? Would you feel better about your business if you had a professional image?
If you’ve answered “yes”, you’ll want to contact a marketing and design expert. Not only do you need help, you probably want help as well.
Are You Insane?
Small business owners are a great bunch of people; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are stil
Writing a Nonprofit Annual Report - Seven Quick Tips
If you've been asked to write an annual report for a nonprofit organization, here are seven tips to get you on your way.1. Focus on accomplishments, not activities. We want to know what you did, but more importantly, we want to know why you did it. What were the results? Why did you spend your time the way you did? What difference did it make?2. Jettison the administrative minutiae. Getting a high-speed connection in the office and new accounting software may be big accomplishments from where you sit at your desk, but they have nothing to do with your mission. Inspire donors with accomplishments related to your mission in your annual report and leave all the administrative items for your board report.3. Include photos. Yes, photos really are worth a thousand words. Many of the people reading your annual report won’t actually read it. Show them what you’ve been doing with photos. If you don’t have a digital camera, get one now, as basic models are very inexpensive. It’s also fine to use stock photography to illustrate your work.4. Write captions that tell your story. Now that you’ve got them looking at the photos, tell a story with your captions. Don’t just state what’s in the photo. Connect the photo to an accomplishment. If people read nothing but the captions in your annual report, they should still get a sense for the good work you did last year.5. Explain your financials.
logo, business card, advertisements, brochure, web site, etc). Ask yourself, “How does my business stack up with the rest of the field?” “Do you look like an expert compared to the rest of your competition?” Here’s what you need to understand: whether we recognize it or not, our collateral materials directly and immediately convey to prospects an image of expertise and quality. By visiting your web site, seeing an ad, or receiving a business card, your prospect is already evaluating whether or not you care about quality and whether or notnyou’re an expert in your field. If your prospects don’t perceive that you are an expert and care about quality, you’ve already got two strikes against you.If you've been asked to write an annual report for a nonprofit organization, here are seven tips to get you on your way.1. Focus on accomplishments, not activities. We want to know what you did, but more importantly, we want to know why you did it. What were the results? Why did you spend your time the way you did? What difference did it make?2. Jettison the administrative minutiae. Getting a high-speed connection in the office and new accounting software may be big accomplishments from where you sit at your desk, but they have nothing to do with your mission. Inspire donors with accomplishments related to your mission in your annual report and leave all the administrative items for your board report.3. Include photos. Yes, photos really are worth a thousand words. Many of the people reading your annual report won’t actually read it. Show them what you’ve been doing with photos. If you don’t have a digital camera, get one now, as basic models are very inexpensive. It’s also fine to use stock photography to illustrate your work.4. Write captions that tell your story. Now that you’ve got them looking at the photos, tell a story with your captions. Don’t just state what’s in the photo. Connect the photo to an accomplishment. If people read nothing but the captions in your annual report, they should still get a sense for the good work you did last year.5. Explain your financials.
How do prospects perceive your commitment to quality and expertise compared to the rest of your industry? How is that affecting your sales? If you don’t look like an expert, and that’s something that’s important to you, you might want to look into marketing and design help.
To really find out where you stand, ask your prospects what they think about your marketing materials (make sure you recruit people that will give you a straight answer).
Take a Self Confidence Evaluation:
Have you ever told someone that your business image (cards, logo, web site, etc…) was temporary and that you we’re going to get it “fixed” later? Do you feel sheepish or apprehensive when showing or directing a prospect to some of your company’s marketing material? Do you avoid networking situations because your marketing and image don’t really show how good your business really is? Could you do a better job in promoting your company if your image was unique and eye-catching? Would you feel better about your business if you had a professional image?
If you’ve answered “yes”, you’ll want to contact a marketing and design expert. Not only do you need help, you probably want help as well.
Are You Insane?
Small business owners are a great bunch of people; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are stil
Good Design Makes Good Sense
Organized your pencils and pens lately? Sorted your clothes into a logical system in your drawers? Then you already understand the basic elements of good design: it's practical, it's systematic, and it makes life easier.In the same way, marketing materials that use good design make business easier for your customers. Layout and presentation make the difference as to whether people will understand your products and services. This is why a well-designed ad outperforms one that's thrown together using intuition alone.Well-designed materials become even more important as their complexity grows. For instance, an ad typically gets someone's attention for five seconds. In contrast, a brochure has the potential to claim much more of your prospect's time and commitment. Hand a customer a poorly-formatted, hard-to-read piece and you may lose them forever.So is good design really as simple as organizing your tie collection? Well, not quite. But there are some hard and fast rules you can follow. Use this checklist for your next project. Structure and time your piece correctly, and then brace yourself for every businessperson's dream: informed customers who are ready to do business with your company.Five Basics of Good Design1. Never obscure your message. The KISS (Keep It Simple, Smarty) rule applies equally well to writing copy, creating graphics, and choosing a format.2. Work backwards from your goal to your marke
ou stand, ask your prospects what they think about your marketing materials (make sure you recruit people that will give you a straight answer).Organized your pencils and pens lately? Sorted your clothes into a logical system in your drawers? Then you already understand the basic elements of good design: it's practical, it's systematic, and it makes life easier.In the same way, marketing materials that use good design make business easier for your customers. Layout and presentation make the difference as to whether people will understand your products and services. This is why a well-designed ad outperforms one that's thrown together using intuition alone.Well-designed materials become even more important as their complexity grows. For instance, an ad typically gets someone's attention for five seconds. In contrast, a brochure has the potential to claim much more of your prospect's time and commitment. Hand a customer a poorly-formatted, hard-to-read piece and you may lose them forever.So is good design really as simple as organizing your tie collection? Well, not quite. But there are some hard and fast rules you can follow. Use this checklist for your next project. Structure and time your piece correctly, and then brace yourself for every businessperson's dream: informed customers who are ready to do business with your company.Five Basics of Good Design1. Never obscure your message. The KISS (Keep It Simple, Smarty) rule applies equally well to writing copy, creating graphics, and choosing a format.2. Work backwards from your goal to your marke
Take a Self Confidence Evaluation:
Have you ever told someone that your business image (cards, logo, web site, etc…) was temporary and that you we’re going to get it “fixed” later? Do you feel sheepish or apprehensive when showing or directing a prospect to some of your company’s marketing material? Do you avoid networking situations because your marketing and image don’t really show how good your business really is? Could you do a better job in promoting your company if your image was unique and eye-catching? Would you feel better about your business if you had a professional image?
If you’ve answered “yes”, you’ll want to contact a marketing and design expert. Not only do you need help, you probably want help as well.
Are You Insane?
Small business owners are a great bunch of people; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are stil
International Shipping Tips
Shipping packages internationally can be tedious. Each country sets its own regulations for what can be imported and what documentation is required for customs. Even shipments to Canada and Mexico require customs documentation (what ever happened to NAFTA?). The most common customs documentation may include:1) commercial invoice - this document details the contents of the package, including a description of the item(s), value, weight, quantity, shipper, and receiver (i.e., "consignee")2) power of attorney - this document is signed by the shipper to give the shipping company authorization to act as the shipper's broker to get the shipment through customsSometimes, additional documentation is required for international shipments. To simplify the process, visit your local The UPS Store. The friendly staff will expedite your shipment to its destination with automated systems to complete most of the paperwork for you!Keep in mind that shipping internationally with UPS is more expensive than other shipping methods. The value added services offered by UPS include: UPS acts as the customs broker to get your package through the customs process in the destination country.UPS flies the package to its destination country on its own fleet of aircraft.UPS delivers the package right to your receiver's door, in most cases. An agency like the Post Office turns the package over to the mail delivery system in the destination country an
; most are positive, hopeful and optimistic. These are all terrific characteristics to have; they all want their business to grow, they hope to bring in more sales and they are optimistic about getting more customers, but few of them have a plan to achieve it.Shipping packages internationally can be tedious. Each country sets its own regulations for what can be imported and what documentation is required for customs. Even shipments to Canada and Mexico require customs documentation (what ever happened to NAFTA?). The most common customs documentation may include:1) commercial invoice - this document details the contents of the package, including a description of the item(s), value, weight, quantity, shipper, and receiver (i.e., "consignee")2) power of attorney - this document is signed by the shipper to give the shipping company authorization to act as the shipper's broker to get the shipment through customsSometimes, additional documentation is required for international shipments. To simplify the process, visit your local The UPS Store. The friendly staff will expedite your shipment to its destination with automated systems to complete most of the paperwork for you!Keep in mind that shipping internationally with UPS is more expensive than other shipping methods. The value added services offered by UPS include: UPS acts as the customs broker to get your package through the customs process in the destination country.UPS flies the package to its destination country on its own fleet of aircraft.UPS delivers the package right to your receiver's door, in most cases. An agency like the Post Office turns the package over to the mail delivery system in the destination country an
I’ll ask prospects, “Do you plan on growing your business more this year than last?” The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” This of course is a great answer. I then follow this question up with a slightly harder one, “What do you plan on doing this year that’s going to make that happen?” This is when I get the deer in the headlights look, “I don’t know”. Business owners are optimistic and hopeful – but they don’t have a plan, and they often see investing in their marketing and design as an expense, not an investment.
Business owners want to succeed, they hope they will succeed but they have no idea how to do it. They elect not to invest in their company, their people, processes, marketing and business identity, and yet are still hopeful that they are magically going to succeed and grow their business. That’s crazy!
If you want to succeed and grow your business, that’s terrific, just make sure you have a plan and a clear strategy to back it up. Part of that strategy might include getting your accounting books in order, implementing a clear and effective marketing strategy, gathering extensive feedback from clients, hiring a business coach, competitive analysis, permission marketing or upgrading your web site, company identity or marketing materials. These aren’t expenses, they are investments.
Doing the same thing from year to year and expecting different results is crazy – well, actually it’s defined as insanity.
Are you planning on growing your business? If so, what measures are you going to undertake to do it? What are you going to do, or invest in this year to grow your company?
Do you expect to grow your company this year, or are you just hoping? Be honest with yourself. If you hope to grow your business but you’re not doing anything significant to make that happen, you probably want to look into what effective, results-driven marketing and design can do for you.
Do a Skills Assessment:
One of the most beneficial concepts I’ve learned in business is knowing what I can, and what I can’t do well. Even within the field of design there are many areas I specialize in, and some I am not as strong in. In those areas where I was not as strong, I was savvy enough to recognize I needed an expert, so I hired one. I know I can’t do it all. More than that, I know I shouldn’t do it all, and you shouldn’t either. What do you really do well, and is marketing and design one of those things? Is your business being hurt because you’re trying to do the marketing and design?
Here’s a great exercise: pretend that you had a board of directors for your business, and you were on that board rather than the current owner or manager. If you were on that board, do you think that the person(s) currently doing the marketing and design for your business are qualified to help your company succeed and grow?
Does this marketing person(s) have the time; does she/he/you have the talent?
Do any of you have any formal marketing or advertising training?
Have any of you studied marketing and advertising, and how they affect consumers?
Do you feel confident that any of you know how your customer buys, and why she buys?
You might find that you’re in a good position to do the design and marketing for your company, but if you’re like most small business owners your talents might be elsewhere. If you’re really looking to grow, succeed and achieve in business, know what you don’t do well and bring people on in those areas to advise you and guide you.
How’s the Reaction?
Just as parents see their baby with rose-colored glasses, small business owners often see their company very differently than their prospects. Have you ever seen an average looking baby only to hear the parents rave over and over how she/he should be a baby model? Your business is probably your baby, and you’ll see it differently than how the rest of the world does. How your business is perceived by prospects (not you) will have a direct affect on your sales your success – how prospects view your business can be the difference between success and failure. Learning to see your business through the eyes of your prospects is essential. If you want to know why John Q. buys, you have to see the world through John Q’s eyes.
How might others see your business? Ask yourself these questions:
Do prospects often compliment your business image and marketing materials?
How do you think prospects would rate your business image and marketing materials: Outstanding / Good / Average / Below Average / Dismal.
Do you think prospect’s can see a clear and definite reason to do business with you over anyone else in the industry? Are
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.casualarticles.com/article/7974/casualarticles-Its-A-Lot-Like-Spinach-Stuck-Between-Your-Teeth--How-Can-You-Tell-You-Need-Marketing--Design-Help.html">It's A Lot Like Spinach Stuck Between Your Teeth – How Can You Tell You Need Marketing & Design Help</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.casualarticles.com/article/7974/casualarticles-Its-A-Lot-Like-Spinach-Stuck-Between-Your-Teeth--How-Can-You-Tell-You-Need-Marketing--Design-Help.html]It's A Lot Like Spinach Stuck Between Your Teeth – How Can You Tell You Need Marketing & Design Help[/url]
Related Articles:
Women Play to Win in Business and Life
How Can ISO 9001:2000 be Applied to Healthcare?
Bookmark it:
|