I talk to many small businesses, some are startups and many others have been operating for a few years. One common theme that I see is that when I start to explain about my three month marketing strategy process which includes focussing on Channel Marketing, Internet Marketing, Category Marketing, Market Segmentation, Branding, Supply and Demand and more there is a reticence and reluctance to stop and consider the marketing process.
The point is that so many small businesses and work from home organisations are in love with their product and not necessarily looking out and seeing what is is that the customer actually desires, wants and needs. That is one reason why business do not grow – as they continue to do the same things over and over again.
I find myself explaining that there is a reason why all the large corporates have marketing departments and why people go to university to study marketing. Unfortunately this falls on death ears in many cases and the owners continue to (try to) do the marketing themselves. The skill of business negotiation and communication must be learnt and deveoped over time as with any other skill.
If you are running a small business, whether it be a work from home operation or you have employees in an office. Consider this, where could your business be in say six months time if you stop and spend some time on working on the most critical part of your business which is your marketing strategy. Do not fall in love with your product, fall in love with the marketing process and continually searching out and determining what it is that your customers want. This is how businesses grow, make your business a growth business and consider stategies such as niche marketing on an ongoing basis.
Interested in hearing if you have any comments on this.
Best to you,
StephenC
