Practical. Affordable. Proven.
Those are not words small businesses typically associate with marketing. Many think of marketing as a blend of creativity, luck and grasping at the latest trend. But you can build a Step-by-Step System that makes marketing practical, affordable, and effective using the core principles of Duct Tape Marketing.
Strategy or Tactics?
The key to successful marketing begins with understanding the difference between strategy and tactics. Many business owners reach for the tactic of the week or keep doing what they have always done.
But implementing tactics before getting a clear idea of your strategy leads to significant frustration and often wasted time and money.
The Do Nothing or Do Everything Trap:
The frustration of tactical marketing often drives businesses into two equally unhealthy directions. They grow so overwhelmed with tactical options that they throw up their hands and just stop marketing. The other path leads to trying tactic after tactic hoping to hit on just the right formula – the hit or miss approach. This type of marketing will quickly drain enthusiasm and resources. Either way can be hazardous to the long-term health of your business.
Escape the trap by implementing a proven method:
The core principles of Duct Tape Marketing have been developed and refined to deliver results. Using a 7-Step Marketing Approach, Strategy 1st Marketing collaborates with the business owner to install marketing systems that attract and retain more clients and customers. The 1st step in the system is to develop a strategy – a clear plan of how you’re going to reach your marketing goals. We collaborate to: Decide Who Matters (define your ideal client/customer); Discover How To Be Different (emphasize your core difference to attract your ideal client/customer); Connect the Dots (take your ideal client and core difference and use it to formulate a stated strategy). All your tactics can then be filtered through this strategy to greatly increase their effectiveness.
If this type of approach sounds sensible to you, take a few minutes to request a Signature Brand Audit. A Signature Brand Audit is a 30 minute coaching session to review your existing marketing, and provide several suggestions to start you on the path to marketing success. Some consultants charge $250 for this type of “pick my marketing brain” session, but I’m currently offering it for free. To get started click on “Brand Audit” below.
