without marketing there is no business
Today’s blog is more a frustration than it is an insight, although what I’m about to discuss is apparently news to some. I can’t tell you how many times a week I meet people with new businesses. Although I’m somewhat shocked that people are starting businesses in this economy, I still engage them in a conversation about their plans. They’ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars (if not more) on designing, building and opening their business yet when I ask about their marketing plan, the ever-popular response is they don’t have any money left for marketing. I am just dumbfounded each and every time I hear this response even though I’ve heard it over and over again. I still can’t grasp how a business owner thinks he can survive, or better yet, make a name for him/herself by word of mouth alone? How or why would you open a business if you can’t afford to market it? How will people know you are there? When you open the doors, will people just start flooding in because you decide that today you are open? Is there some magical message that gets tossed out into the universe that takes over our bodies and drags us into your business? I apologize for my sarcasm, but I swear this is how people think….otherwise why else would someone spend so much money in starting/opening a business with no money to market it?
I realize that in our world today, there are a lot more means of self-promotion with the Internet and Social Media but it isn’t enough. Not to mention, most likely the owner of the business is busy enough running the business they don’t have time to do what’s appropriate to effectively “create the BUZZ” about the business nor do they often have the expertise or know how. I would never try to do the accounting for my business or even claim to know what and where to invest my money, this is what accountants and financial planners are for. We all have a niche and all have different skill sets so lets rely on the experts to do what they do and not bog ourselves down in doing so much that nothing is done to perfection.
Marketing is a process, it takes time and many different approaches to be effective. Engaging in only one marketing tactic isn’t enough either. It’s a combination of many different elements that makes a campaign effective. It’s the repetition of seeing/hearing a message that makes someone take action; not one ad, or an occasional tweet but rather a continuous bombardment of a brand or message.
So PLEASE don’t tell me you are opening a business……..but don’t have a budget for marketing, it’s like telling me Matthew McConaughey is going to show up on my doorstep tomorrow and propose to me, it’s JUST NOT POSSIBLE!
Totally agree with you. You need marketing to be able to get your product to the people and its important to get help from the people who know how to do it!
I couldn’t agree with you more! The marketing plan is the first thing I started with. However, I obviously need a professional like you to go over it with me and get a few details nailed down. I’m not a marketing professional. Just an amateur with a dream.
I completely agree with this, I meet several peole who are either planning on starting a business or are already in the process of doing so. But as soon as I say what are you doing to get yourself out there and create a buzz. They say Im meeting people and pitching it to them. Is that all yup! I usually consult with them, and take them on as clients in order to take their marketing plans and step it up a notch. Like you say if you have no skills in marketing hire someone. I personally dont know accounting but its important to my organization, so I hire an accountant and save myself the headache.
LOL, now this is funny! Good one…..you even used his pic!