What’s the old saying “fail to plan, plan to fail?” I have always hated that saying because it is so negative…and because it is so true! I think we are all guilty of not having a plan or even worse having a plan and paying attention to it only when we are slow and looking for new business. If you don’t have a marketing plan how do you know what to do to bring in new business? If you do have a marketing plan and only follow it sporadically is it working to bring in new business?
It’s hard to implement a marketing plan; as I business owner who runs a company that helps people implement their marketing plans I know this all too well. When your business is rocking you get caught up in the details of making sales and the marketing is the last thing to get done. Then when it is slow and it is time to do the marketing it can be a daunting and overwhelming task. Yet marketing is something that has to be done consistently to bring in new business. It’s a never ending (sometimes vicious) circle.
If this sounds all too familiar to you I have a solution. Well I have a few solutions actually. First would be to create a marketing plan. One of my favorite websites, Entrepreneur.com has great articles about creating marketing plans. Two articles I like on this website are Here’s the Plan and Plan Your Marketing Now. Both articles give easy but smart ideas on how to create a marketing plan.
The second solution is to look at your calendar. Every day plan at least one simple activity to jump start your marketing plan and work towards your goals. If your goal is to stay in touch with your past clients on a more regular basis then work on the first step of that plan. Actually schedule your marketing tasks as if they are meetings with clients. Block off however long you think it will take you to complete that task. By working this way before you know it you will be sending out marketing materials to your past clients and your business will be growing!
Now if looking at solutions one and two puts you into a total panic do not fear. I have one more solution. Call me! In all seriousness I created Automated Marketing because I know there are many people like you who don’t have the time, don’t know how to or plain don’t want to do their own marketing. I will work with you to develop a plan that works for you, your business and probably most important your budget.
Whatever your solution is my advice is just to take the first step. In 6 to 12 months you’ll be amazed at the growth of your business and my guess? Proud of what you have worked to accomplish. That is a reward all its own!
Posted by Jennifer Snyder 
