The Verdict Is In -- The Business Marketing Gym is a Success!

I have to admit I was nervous about today. When ever I launch a new program I have butterflies in my stomach. The good news is they were flying in formation. I was able to harness the energy.

After everyone was fed and formally introduced, we jumped right into the meeting. In no time the group was helping each other create customized "30-second commercials." It was amazing how quickly everyone bonded. Before the meeting was over two members found a way they could work together in a Joint Venture. In fact, it took a little creativity, because it was not obvious at first that they would make good joint venture partners, but once the match was made, I could see the wheels turning.

I find myself really looking forward to the next meeting.

Why You and Why Now?

Those are words that might strike fear in the heart of normal people. It doesn't have to though. If you take time to know what your fit is and what makes you different, then this will be just a normal every day conversation. Over the years I have done lots of research on this topic of "differentiation" and my favorite way to describe it is this way. There are three ways companies can differentiate themselves.

1. Cost - They are the cheapest in town (when you think low price I am sure a company pops into your mind immediately.
2. Technology - You can have cutting edge technology, the latest and greatest. Usually this is not low price. (Again, if you think about it you can come up with a company that is known for its technology savvy.)
3. Customer Intimacy - This is when you take the time to really service your customers, get to know them and stay in touch with them, even if they don't buy right away. (This is how a lot of the VIP programs were developed, to learn more about their customers so they can service them in a meaningful way.)

So the question is do you want to be known for low price, high tech/expensive or customer intimate/driven? Once you make that determination, then you can put your game plan together.

Are you fishing in the right hole?

I was reading a book on Rainmaking and the author suggests that sometimes being a Rainmaker is as simple as fishing where there are fish. He notes that people spend lots of money and time on the right fishing rod, bait and tackle. They work on their technique. They spend their day wondering why the fish aren't biting, only to realize there aren't any fish. Do we do that when we are out marketing and selling our wares?

Do we know our niche? Who are we selling to? Do we know where they hang out? Do they have the money to buy? Are we speaking their language? Do they understand our fit? After all what good is walking into an assisted living facility with play equipment for children. Are we networking at a Manufacturers Association when we need to be speaking to Human Resource Professionals.

Go where the fish are and then carry use the right bait.

Have you found your voice!

I had a delightful Mother's Day weekend which included a Family Movie Night. The movie we watched was Happy Feet. It was a delightful story and for me the take away was "Find your voice and be the best you you can be - In other words, Be Authentic." I have seen this lacking in the business world. Especially when it comes to Entrepreneurs who go from one project to another depending on which way the wind blows or where the money is. I have come to understand that it might make sense to slow down to speed up and find your self. Your True North as Covey says. Then, and only then, can you know what your fit is in the world. That will be the passion you bring to the marketplace. Then the money will flow and it will never feel like work for you will be honoring who you are.

Coming of Age

It sounds silly, I have been in business for over 14 years, yet this week I did something that was way out of my comfort zone and made me feel "grown up." I had a professional picture taken. It seems like a little thing, but for me it was huge. At first it felt somewhat self indulgent. Then I realized this is all about business. I teach my clients to put their best foot forward, after all you only get one chance to make a first impression. So I decided it was time to have my first impression a lasting one.

So take a look at your pictures, are they professional, are they outdated? If you answered yes, consider meeting with a photographer and getting it updated. And by the way, they can work miracles.

Press Releases

I am always looking for ways to help my clients. I recently stumbled across an online Press Release service that is easy to use and pretty affordable. It is PR.com. What is cool is about it is that you can create a press release and send it to a specific target audience. For example: I created one that I wanted to get out to the business community. I used the general category of Business. You get one category for free, so it was free. In one day it came up on a search engines! With just a little budget you can get more exposure. Check it out.

Drip, Drip, Drip . . .

Have you heard the term "Drip Marketing?" I intuitively knew what it was, but just learned the term. What it means is to continually keep a client or prospect taken care of by touching base with them on a regular basis. This is called "customer intimacy." I love the concept of creating a schedule of events that you implement on a monthly basis so that you can let your clients and top prospects know you are there. It is as simple as once a month sending items like a relevant article, a thank you card, a survey, a referral request/card or a holiday card. The key to making this work is a good contact management system so that you can automate the process. So don't forget to drip on your customers, or they won't grow with you!

Birth of a Gym

After some market research and some conversations with clients and friends, the Business Marketing Gym was born. What is the Business Marketing Gym? It is a mastermind group for business owners who want to build their businesses and create a lifestyle not a job. In the Business Marketing Gym there will be a training session and then there will be a mastermind session. During the mastermind session the group will problem solve and create together. It is very exciting. What is more exciting is that I get to work with the people I already love to work with and help build their businesses. I will partner with some of the brightest minds in the area to bring real value to the group. Stay tuned to hear more. And to check out more about the Business Marketing Gym got to www.businessmarketinggym.com.