How healthy is your marketing?

 

 How do you choose your cereal?

Are you the one who reads every ingredient right down to the calorie count while being careful about the price per ounce? Or, does "CEREAL...ONLY 50-CENTS" catch your eye regardless of the 2 scoops of pure sugar and zero nutrients in each box?

I have to admit that today's economy makes that cheap, sugary cereal VERY appealing. But, what about those end results? Sugar highs and really bad energy crashes, obesity, chronic fatigue, and bad teeth!

Impulse buying, because something is cheap and has a pretty package, eventually costs you more in the end. So, why would you take this same approach when marketing your business?

I know your answer, "Because it's cheap and everybody else is doing it."

People cringe when they hear the word "marketing" because they KNOW it's good for them, but they don't understand it or realize its potential. Marketing goes beyond pretty business cards and brochures; and it's more massive than a slick website, e-mail campaigns or social networking. Marketing is the air that breathes life into your business.

Cut off the air supply to marketing and your company will soon fail. And, the air mixture is equally important.

Humans need a mixture of elements in the atmosphere in order to survive. Although oxygen is necessary, repeated use of pure oxygen could be harmful. So, the air we breathe has a healthy balance of different gases to sustain life.

And, your company's marketing should also have a healthy mix to sustain its life: the perfect mix of online, print, telemarketing and media.

Naysayers may now be saying, "But, that's too overwhelming and I'm sure that costs too much."

Rene Descartes said, "Optimists may see a light when there is none, but why must a pessimist always run to blow it out?"

There is a lot to consider when you're trying to keep your company alive. Every move you make needs to be healthy choice. You can try to do this on your own, but, truthfully, unless you're a marketing maven, you need to find the proper professionals who will complete your team for success. Talk to business associates and friends, contact the local Chamber of Commerce and continue reading blogs like mine in order to find the right mix of people.

You can do this - your company CAN thrive and be healthy!