“I’ve never paid for marketing. We’ve always been word of mouth.”
If I had a nickel for every time a business owner said this, well…
Being a traveling marketer, these statements make me cringe a bit inside. First, what does that mean?
– You mean to say you have never listed your business number online or for those vintage owners, in the phone book?
– You mean to say you never had a special that you extended to your clients?
– You mean to say you have never owned a business card?
– So what you’re telling me is that you don’t have a business name? Or logo?
These questions are the tip of the iceberg and I wish more people would stop saying untrue statements.
According to the Small Business Association (SBA), 30% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 50% during the first five years and 66% during the first 10.
I wonder if they relied strictly on word of mouth?
Please take a moment and think about all the forms of marketing you do that you don’t realize is actually marketing. And, some of those things you have to pay for so by saying you have never spent money on marketing isn’t truly being awake to what marketing really is.
Look up. Is there a sign that has your business name on it? I think we could all agree that that’s marketing. And so would the people who made the graphic in the sign and the people who made the sign.
Your logo is branding. Your business name is marketing. Your business card is selling. Your holiday cards are retention. Your specials are business development. All major marketing components.
The dictionary describes marketing as the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.
Full circle, people! Everything is marketing! One of the first questions people ask, unfortunately, ask is “what do you do” which is usually promptly responded by the title of a type of job. That, too, is marketing.
So if you’ve had great success “not marketing” I would love to see what you could do if you looked at ways you are and can, “connect the dots and tell your story”.
How Callan Group Communications Connects YOUR dots to tell YOUR story:
Our goals are simple. We listen to yours. We see blind spots. We develop thoughtful paths to connect all dots.
It starts with a complimentary digital profile that our experienced team takes about an hour to create. This is a road map. You will clearly see ways you can grow from a reader perspective.
Then, when you are interested in investing into your business, we set up a time to tour your office and talk shop.
Contact us to set up your 2020 vision!
386-538-1083
