Missing the results you’re seeking? Maybe your problem is lack of marketing.
As an Indianapolis marketing consultant, I have many “heart-to-heart” conversations with business owners and sales and marketing executives about past and projected business performance. Usually, by the time these individuals are coming to me for marketing help, they are at a point of desperation. Something needs to change — by way of more leads and sales — or there will be a major impact on the business (lost jobs or even closing the business).
Everyone knows that marketing helps to drive sales — whether it’s increased awareness from an advertisement or mail campaign, PR that drives phone calls or drop-in traffic, or pay-per-click ads and SEO to drive Web leads. And everyone knows that you have to spend money to make money, right?
But what I’m seeing from Indianapolis businesses today is a reluctance to spend, and to invest in good marketing and advertising that is going to drive their business forward, and make it successful. I see businesses just trying to “get by” — to skate along with whatever business or referrals come their way. They’re doing the bare minimum. And it’s working. It’s producing little to no results.
I just want to tell these business owners and executives one thing: (borrowing a phrase from Dr. Phil) “How’s that working for you?”
If you don’t have a plan for how you are going to grow your business; if you don’t set aside a budget for marketing; if you or your team don’t devote the time needed to promote yourself (or outsource to someone who can), you will not succeed. Maybe you will stay in business for a few more years, if you’re lucky. But you won’t prosper. You won’t grow.
Ask yourself this one question: Are you truly happy with where your business is headed, and with the results you’ve achieved so far this year?
Now ask yourself: What could I have done differently, to ensure that I’m nurturing my business to its full potential?
If you are not truly happy with your business results so far this year, there is still time to turn things around. Sometimes we have to sink close to the bottom before we can rise to the top. I know you can do it.
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