Imagine yourself in the next 90 days having twice the amount of paying customers as now. Could you service these clients or customers properly? Could you handle the growth? Now before you say yes, let me make the stakes higher. Understand that in order to enjoy this wonderful growth you must invest an additional 30 hours every week into marketing activities.
Chances are, you have things to do, you probably have some tasks or initiatives you have been neglecting. And some quality family or vacation time you have been putting off until...
Often times when I first meet business owners I will ask them how effective they are at growing (marketing) their business. I regularly hear responses like, "All my efforts go into growing my business, or, Everything I have my time, energy, and money is in this business." Most avoid a direct response to the question because they have no idea.
How many times in your life have you thought your actions were righteous, that you were marketing like crazy, and that because you gave it your all it would have to pay off? Like elementary school, there are no tests, but as long as you show effort you get to move on to the next grade.
This reminds me of a story about a married couple. One morning they were heading out the door for work and the wife asks the husband, "Can you pick up a gallon of milk on your way home?" the husband tells his wife, "Ok baby, I'll try." And she says to her husband, "Thanks honey, I'll try too!" Now there are four outcomes to this story, the husband brings home the milk or the wife does, they both bring home milk or neither does. But no matter what happens they are both off the hook because at least they tried...
Effective marketing is not about giving it your all, or trying really hard to grow the business. It is an initiative that gives at least a one cent positive return. Effective marketing is about investing $1 and getting $1.01. Anything that is not directly resulting in a positive return on your marketing budget is an illusion. It just a story that many business owner tell themselves; they convince themselves that the business will grow on its own.
I'm guessing that you are an intelligent, smart and intuitive entrepreneur. And if you are honest with yourself you will realize that at some point over the years you have become very effective at justifying by stretching things and convincing yourself of false truths for the purpose of making life easier.
Answer this question: Is your marketing effective? do you consistently test and check your initiatives to make sure you are getting positive returns on your investments? Can you quickly and without hesitation answer this question. How much time are you investing on marketing your business? What false truths have you sold yourself to make your situation okay?
I'm sure you want to grow your business, doubling it might even be nice... but are you ready and properly equipped to do this effectively with out surrendering your free time, or your freedom?
Think back to when you had that moment of inspiration to start up this business, your intention was probably to experience business freedom. To have the resources and leverage for doing the things you want to to while spending time with the ones you love, when you want.
While following your marketing plan be sure that you are testing each initiative. Be certain that you are getting a positive return. If not you must stop it at once.
I am a marketing change artist that works with entrepreneurs to create holistic marketing strategies that utilize the new laws of social marketing.
...What the heck does that mean?
Kind of wordy I know... Basically if you have a business that you want to be more profitable, but you don't want to sacrifice your freedom ...
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