How Do You Make Online Marketing Easy? Have A PLAN!

Is it "really"  more fun NOT to have a plan?  Winging it .. last minute changes ...go with the flow ... random stabbing at opportunities .... never knowing what you are going to do, etc!  

Really? ... I mean REALLY? You would think so because so many small businesses have taken on the above "ways" for their daily online marketing activities! The overwhelming number of resources all shouting out how valuable they "each" are is probably one of the reasons that this sad state of affairs exist.  It really is a mess out there ... with lots and lots of duplication.

When you stop to think about it, do any of these "ways" ... winging it, last minute changes, go with the flow, etc, ... sound like a smart way to create, manage and grow a business?  Do any of them represent a "style" that you would use for your future security? I don't think so.  Yet again, online marketing is being managed this way by many small businesses.  Time might be a factor, especially for the entrepreneur. 

Just last week, an online group that I follow, had a post in which someone asked  followers when they are short of time, which marketing resources do they grab to use if limited to just two?

1. First ... one should not be just "grabbing" at resources.   This speaks to my point that winging it, random stabbing, etc is no way to run a business. 
2. It also speaks to online marketing resources having the control of a business success NOT the communications going over the resources. 
3. And lastly, it makes it sound like all businesses might have the same priorities. 

ALL of the above chaos goes away when you have a plan!  Planning is vital at "any" level of your marketing! Plan your marketing for one product or plan for a huge marketing campaign over a certain amount of time ... BUT DO PLAN!

Identifying the "jobs" that need to be done to attract, connect, interest and convert buyers, choosing and assigning resources to do these jobs and creating the messaging for your plan makes your life soooo much easier AND more successful. 

Going back to the question in the online group that I follow .... let's say the resources in this question were people  Which two people would you keep working in the same scenario. Wouldn't you first be asking what you needed to get done that day?  Of course.  It's really the same with online marketing. If you have a plan and on a given day you are short of time, you know the two most important tasks that need to get done on that day for the unique communications needs of "your" business!  It probably won't be the same as other businesses! And you probably would feel foolish even asking the question! 

Do you see the difference?  I hope so!   Let me know your thoughts! 

If you need help creating a plan for your online marketing you may want to know more about our Lay Of The Land training!  One-on-one, hand-holding and guaranteed to enlighten your online experience, empower you and give you the confidence you need to drive your business forward ! 

Keep your business growing ... 

margie

Has Internet Overwhelm Got You Down?

Hi there .... 

It's a fact! If there isn't some new online resource announced weekly, it's a new way to use an old tried and true resource. It can become overwhelming and definitely can get you down!

BUT as it all things ... there is a flip side. It there is a down, there is an up! All it takes is a small shift in your mindset and a reminder of what great advantages the internet brings to your business.  

If we compare the old days to now ... it used to be that:

• Before: One sales rep would visit one prospect at a time.
  Now: One online sales presentation can visit unlimited prospects at a time. 
• Before:  A single ad could cost lots of dollars with no cost effective way to change, tweak, etc.
  Now:  Ads can be created by yourself and most can be FREE ... able to be tweaked at will. 
• Before:  Marketing was to a broad group of people .. .including multiple demographics. 
  Now:  Marketing can be targeted  to a single demographic and layers within that demographic.

And so on!  Are you seeing the advantages?  Feeling better? Yes, but so what?  You are "still" overwhelmed!!! 

Sometimes  having a bit of guidance can pull you out of overwhelm. Going back to the old days and using "driving a car" as an analogy.  You could probably successfully drive a car around some simple low traffic country roads without guidance or instruction.  BUT ... if you headed out for the jammed packed highways and freeways full of traffic and fast moving exits, etc... you would look for some guidance.

Same thing for your internet marketing.  To continue with the "driving" analogy ... taking a class on how to park, or how to set speed control, won't help you in the big picture where all comes together and you are out in busy traffic. You need to know the rules of the road, the purpose of each sign, and more! Same thing with your internet marketing.  Taking a class in one piece of the "whole" won't help your entire marketing implementation!  

To reach out to all of you who are in this "overwhelm" state, I have created a very simple class that will immediately clarify the internet for "your" specific business marketing purposes.  It's hand-holding, 1-on-1, can be completed in one telephone session but two are included just for follow-up questions & review. You can even call  for a complimentary discussion to make sure it's right for "your" specific case of overwhelm.  You can find out more here ...http://bit.ly/1qXeXgS

I welcome your comments on "internet overwhelm" .. on my new class offering ... on what I have to say here in this posting!  Your input is very important to me! 

Keep your business growing ... 
margie