Successful Inspite of Themselves!

I remember reading the great Jay Abraham saying that about some businesses. Well it seems to me that there are plenty small businesses that fall into that category.

On a visit to a potential client recently I asked a simple question, "How many customers do you have?" Since the firm has been trading for more than twenty years, I knew what the answer would be. Thousands.

You'll probably be able to guess my next question. "How often do you contact them?" The reply, you've guessed it, "Never!"

On further questioning, it became apparant that the owner thought that contacting his clients by post would be 'too expensive'! Now I could understand his thinking if his products sold for a couple of pounds, but in this case we're talking high margins.

Unbelievable! He is sitting on a goldmine.

Yes, he is still running a successful business, he's just not making the most of it!

No USP, no client contact, no follow-up, no marketing plan, testimonials kept in a drawer, I could go on.

And to cap it all.......he employs a marketing manager!

Please don't let your business fall into the same shape, even if you are successful. It's always better to let someone from the outside look at your business. They can see things you can't.

Google Earth To Use Video

It just gets better and better!

While looking at the Marketing Vox newsletter the other day I noticed a subject line about Google Earth.

Intrigued I clicked the link and followed through to find an article from Google LatLong that Google Earth are starting to use videos from You Tube as part of their featured content when someone uses Google Earth.

So, if your business is in the vicinity of a search, a You Tube video of your business will be available for the user to view!

In other words, get a short video about your business up on You Tube asap!

And if you can't do it........I know a man that can!!

It's Getting Bigger......

Online video that is!

I was browsing last night and came across another white paper about online video, this time produced by Blinkx, the video search engine.

The figures banded about regarding online video consumption and use is quite staggering, with nearly fifty video search engines now inoperation! WOW!

Yet some folks still don't get it.

That's their loss I suppose.

Oh before I go, another email hit my inbox yesterday that had me licking my lips, this time it was from a fellow called Mike Long.

To cut a long story short his video presentation featured the new V-Book. Yep, you heard the V-Book. Basically it's an E-Book with video in it.

How powerful is that? Think how viral an E-Book is, now think x10 for a V-Book!

I'll leave you with that.......

Let The Process Begin...

Is it any wonder that so many businesses hit the wall in record time?

Ask most small business owners, new and existing, some simple questions and you'll more than likely be met with a blank stare. Simple questions like, Do you have a marketing plan for your business? Or, Why should anyone do business with you, instead of your competitor?

Questions that should be answered without hesitation.

Then, after trying to justify that their business is different, that they don't 'have the time' for marketing or don't need a 'marketing plan' proceed to tell you how much they've just spent or wasted on this 'bells and whistles' all singing, all dancing website. That doesn't even collect email addresses!

My friend, the reason for this rant is the damage being done to theses businesses is beyond repair in most cases.

And it all comes down to planning. Not so long ago I attended a 'meeting' where our mutual clients wanted everyone involved to 'get to know each other.

A simple project, now being decided by 'committee'!

This time next month we'll be going over the same things, each member trying to justify their attendance and nothing getting done.

Is it worth the bother?

Back To Basics

I was at a meeting yesterday that brought back home to me that the majority of 'professionals' working as marketers often miss the boat entirely.

This isn't a personal attack on the people involved just an observance that the image thing takes over from the substance thing more often than not.

To put you in the picture, I was attending the meeting at the invitation of my clients who were keen for me to meet the other people involved in their business. It was very pleasant, amiable and everyone was 'nice'.

I was there putting my views and proposals on using video in the marketing of the clients website. nobody seemed to bother if it was there or not, or what the message was.

It was at this point that I thought about the whole marketing programme for the clients.

At no time was there a mention of a USP, specific client market or database to market and nurture their existing clients.

So how exactly are they to attract new business?

Well why not go back to basics?

Establish a USP, I know how they could do that, but the 'image' people haven't asked them, then collect the names and contact details from their existing customers, and go on from there.

It might not set the heather on fire but it will bring in more business, and that's a start.

Congrats To John Reese!

If you've been following the anticipated launch of BlogRush, from a genuine internet marketing guru John Reese, then you'll know the lengths he and his team have gone to in order to bring to the internet community something really worthwhile.

Not another fanfare of recycled junk, which is often the case online!

So now it's live Well Done John, I'm off for a look now!

Me, Me, Me , Me, Wrong!

What do you usually see when you're looking at, or browsing the MAJORITY of websites?

A plethora of self promotion, that's what!

My company is this, I can do that, we are the best for blah, I am worth $$$$$$.

It's almost endemic. Do these people actually care about YOU, the customer?

Doesn't seem like it.

Image seems to be the vogue as far as these parasites are concerned, and who's first to cry wolf when the business goes belly up? The very same business owner who didn't give a damn about their customers when they were in business.

Now if they'd used some old fashioned direct response principles and focused on giving people what they want, they'd still be in business.

Too late for some, but not for you!

If only they'd thought about the mainstay of their business, the customer.