marketing mix

Are you thinking about your marketing? How do you feel about it? Do you feel you are spending to much time and money on it? As a small business it's sometimes hard to decide on your perfect strategy and often there isn't just one answer that makes the problem go away. It's a process of finding the marketing mix that works for you!

So let's look at what could work for you. A marketing mix already tells you that it is more than just advertising or doing one activity. It's a series of different strategies or activities that work together. Let's brain storm strategies that are cost effective:
- newsletter
- voice mail
- auto-responders
- networking
- referral program
- affiliate program

A lot has to do with building a relationship with your target group, via mail, email, networking, phone, meeting. The more the people get to know you and your service, the more they will think of you when someone needs a service. Being of help to other people like giving them the right contact or some free advice builds trust and loyalty. And that is a key element in cost effective marketing.

I suggest do a series of different activities to be in front of your potential client as much as possible. Being able to show your expertise will eventually make them buy. Try it out, one strategy at a time.

Think like a CEO

Do you own your own business but you think it owns you? how do you know? do you work long hours, trying to meet deadlines, doing 10 things at the same time, never seem to finish anything? then your business probably owns you. what can you do? whenever I get that feeling, I take a break to write down what needs to be done today and cannot wait till tomorrow. I then prioritize the tasks and then go back to work doing the most important things first.

Do you feel you are getting back the control? another, more advanced way to think is who can help me do things so I don't have to do them all? After all you are the CEO of the company. Only because you don't have employees to do things for you doesn't mean you have to wear all the hats. Start with a list of things that someone else could do. Start with a bookkeeper, with a virtual assistant taking care of your admin. Maybe you have a marketing consultant that helps you with your marketing. Then you already outsourced your marketing which is a great step.

Step by step you can start getting back that control and more time during the day to work ON your business.

So I challenge you to ask yourself everytime you feel overwhelmed: what shouldn't I be doing as the CEO of the company? Is there someone else that could do it? Maybe faster, more effective, even cheaper?

My first blog post

Hello everyone

Welcome to my new blog. You'll learn all about how to get things done faster and more effectively and how you can organize your business in a way that makes it easier to get thing done. Excited? I am. Sometimes we don't need to change a whole lot to make a big difference. You might have to change a habit or a detail in your plan to make it work. I want to show you easy ways how to do that. If you have specific questions about something around project management or organizing your business, here is the place to ask!

You'll read from me again soon.
Regina
Your Marketing Manager
Read more about our services on www.businesslifestyle.ca