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I must admit, this sluggish economy has one benefit – it has made us frugal in our attempts to maintain our business.
Lately, conversations with my friends and business associates inevitably turn to, “So, do you have any advice on how to market my business for free?” And, of course it is assumed that my marketing advice will also be free because of our relationship.
“Sure,” I respond as I lean close to them and whisper, “And the secret is right under your nose.”
Your mouth is your most powerful marketing tool.
Social networking tools like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, e-mails, instant messaging, texting, etc. have a role in successful business-building, but they have also minimized the force of the spoken word – word-of-mouth, person-to-person.
We have had a reversal of sales approaches. We’ve gone from phone and in-person sales calls to the faster medium of electronic information. With the click of a mouse, your company’s information zips into the In-Boxes of hundreds of prospects…perhaps even thousands. Or does it? How many of your messages are consumed by SPAM filters? How many are deleted with the countless other e-mails because the recipient simply can’t keep up with the in-flow?
Business owners can’t afford to be reliant on this one form of marketing. Good old-fashioned TALKING to prospects and clients is much more reliable for four reasons:
- CREDIBILITY. You know your business better than anyone and that passion comes across to the prospect when you’re face-to-face – through your words and your body language.
- QUALIFY PROSPECTS. You can gauge immediately how the individual is reacting to your product or service; and you can qualify them for the next step in the sales process.
- IMPROVE BUSINESS. One-to-one feedback allows you to make changes to meet the needs of your clients and target audience.
- RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING. This aspect is your goldmine for future business. You may not get an immediate sale, but constant contact whether written or spoken, and especially in-person, forges a strong bond.
If you’re shy and don’t feel comfortable talking to others. Then my next best FREE advice is, “Get over that, and get over it fast!” You chose to be in business, you followed the beat of your entrepreneurial heart, so it behooves you to do everything in your power to make your dream come true.
Benjamin Franklin said it best, “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.”
Good luck…I’m expecting your call!
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