Are you ever going to start your own business?
Marketing defined- anything and everything you do to get your product or service in the hands of consumers.
If you are an entrepreneur or a small business owner, you will have to be able to compete with the big guys for a piece of the market. To do this your marketing plan MUST consist of three factors:
1. Commitment 2. Investment 3. Consistency
Commitment – Whatever marketing plan you develop, you must remain committed to it no matter what. Consumer reaction happens gradually. The customer needs time to see that you are a legitimate company that is here to stay. Popping in and out of the market (unless your product or service is seasonal) may give the impression that your company may not deliver.
Investment - You should view your marketing plan as a conservative investment. It is not a magic formula. If you expect to reap massive rewards in a month’s time, you may be disappointed. A marketing investment is basically the same as an investment in stock. You analyze the market, decide to put up the money, and be patient. Like many stocks, marketing investments work better over a longer time period.
Consistency – The biggest killer of small advertising campaigns is inconsistency. It takes the average consumer approximately three to six months to make a decision. Seeing the SAME ad over and over demonstrates that your product or service is here to stay. Many entrepreneurs start out with a bang. They advertise boldly for a month or two, but when the phone barely rings, they change Ads or stop advertising altogether. Changing an ad frequently takes away the consistency of how consumers identify you. With so much advertising clutter, consumers may have a hard time remembering what your ads look like. If you ad always looks the same, your consumers will be able to easily identify you. HAPPY MARKETING!
Leilani holds an MBA and a BS in Marketing. She started her first successful business at age 7.
