Marketing 101
I'm a small business owner and consultant. Years ago I ran a small, conscious-minded business where I rented out space to fellow conscious-minded business owners such as yogis, spiritual teachers, and meditation groups. I thought through supporting those people I could make the world a better place. What I discovered about myself was, I was passionate about being a leader who made a difference for other people. That passion didn't die when I sold that business, I still wanted to help improve the lives of others and to make a difference on this planet. I want you to realize the value in choosing entrepreneurship because that's what causes you to be brave enough and prepared to do marketing. Doing your business is your purpose, but if no one knows about your business, you aren't fulfilling that purpose.
Do you avoid doing sales? The cost of not doing marketing or sales will be the closing of your business, as well as costing you financial success. Your business' bottom line, as well as not doing marketing, will cause your business to fail. If people can't find your business, your business will fail. Marketing, sales, and branding approaches vary and over the next few weeks, I'll be blogging about each.
If you don't do sales, your business fails. If your business isn't making money, it's a hobby.
When you hire employees you promise people you'll support them financially. If you sell products you have made your customers a promise that they'll be able to come to you for that product. When you don't do sales and marketing your business will not be around to keep those promises. Lastly, if your business fails, you break the promise you made to yourself. Your promise to be a visionary, to helping others, and providing a good or service is lost when your business fails.
If you avoid sales, you're hiding your light. If you knew how to solve cancer would you keep that information to yourself? No. Just the same, if you don't let people know about you and if you don't share what you know, you're being selfish and allowing yourself to be small. You're avoiding the purpose you were put on earth for when you keep your work and your self a secret.
Share it, don't shove it.
Other people give you permission to make a difference in their world when you share your business. Withholding what you know— not screaming it from the mountaintops, not advertising it or marketing it— withholds you getting permission.
From businessdictionary.com, the definition of the three areas of marketing are as follows:
1. Branding- The process involved in creating a unique name and image mainly through advertising campaigns. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiating presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers
2. Advertising- The activity or profession of producing information for promoting the sale of commercial products or services.
3. Sales Process- Set of steps aimed at initiating and supporting the identification and evaluation of likely customers (prospects), sales presentation, and successful conclusion of sales activities. It requires a close coordination of people, equipment, tools, and techniques, and includes advertising and promotion.
Branding happens before customers are involved, it's the image you create and is the introduction of your business to customers. Advertising is the process of getting yourself out there. The sales process is the exchange of your providing something and receiving payment in return. You're engaged and initiating in the sales process. You determine the success of your company.