<p><strong>Marketing your small business these days is more important than ever.&nbsp; </strong>With today's economy, if you don't have new business coming in, your survival is in great peril.&nbsp; Many of us are spending time, often far too much time, working on the Social Networking sites.&nbsp; It is an effective way to build contacts.&nbsp; It seems like Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter are all you hear about when a small business owner talks about marketing for their business.&nbsp; One of my newest favorites is Biznik.&nbsp; They are great tools to communicate with lots of people.&nbsp; They are usually inexpensive or free.&nbsp; That is -- if you don't count the amount of time it takes to effectively use them.<br /><br /><strong>Don't forget, never forget, that people do business with other people that they know, like and trust.&nbsp;</strong> For small business, your small business, there's nothing more important than building quality relationships.&nbsp; Earning their trust, getting to know them!&nbsp; They must have trust in who you are and what you do.&nbsp; My business has been built entirely by referral.&nbsp; I've developed a network.&nbsp; Not the kind of network you might expect from a computer geek.&nbsp; But a network of people who know me, who like me and who trust me.&nbsp; When I get a phone call or email from someone---even if it's someone I've never met, they contact me because they heard about me or my work from someone they know, someone they like and someone they trust.<br /><br /><strong>You see -- all of my clients come fully ready to purchase my services.&nbsp; </strong>Sometimes they call and aren't sure if I will work with them -- but they already know that I'll do my best to help with their problem.&nbsp; I'll help, even if it means connecting them with someone else.&nbsp; With any other form of marketing -- the client or potential client comes to you with a certain amount of apprehension.&nbsp; They don't know you -- they must first come to trust you before doing business.&nbsp; Even if I don't know them; they've learned about me from someone who does know me, who does trust me and probably has used my services.&nbsp; They are ready to do business because of my marketing network.&nbsp; It's often said that you need to ask for referrals.&nbsp; While I place extreme value on referrals -- I don't normally ask for referrals because it puts the client in a bad spot and under pressure.<br /><br /><strong>It's all about the network -- my marketing network -- your marketing network.</strong>&nbsp; An ever growing network of very satisfied clients who are happy to tell others about me.&nbsp; Not because they've been asked to promote me -- but because they want to do a good thing for someone else.&nbsp; An ever growing network of people who know that I can be trusted to do the right thing -- even though they may have never used my services.&nbsp; They want to help their friends and they feel compelled to spread the word on my behalf.&nbsp; Because they know that I will help their friends.<br /><br /><strong>How do you build such a network?&nbsp; How have I built my network?&nbsp; </strong>There's no better way to build a relationship of trust, no faster way than to do it in person.&nbsp; Yes you can do that online with the social network sites--but it takes much longer, and it's not nearly as powerful or effective.&nbsp; Here are a few tips to help build your marketing network:<br /></p> <ul> <li>Approach everyone with an attitude of service.&nbsp; Regardless of the situation, whether it's a client, a prospect or someone you've met in a networking situation:&nbsp; Always let them know directly that you first want to help them in some way.&nbsp; Listen to them,&nbsp; Really listen!!&nbsp; If nothing else, they'll come away thinking you are a marvelous person because you listened to their needs before you tried to sell them or tell them about yourself.</li> <li>When you are in your business environment always let them know that your first objective is to help solve their problem.&nbsp; Even if it means less business for you.</li> <li>Always deliver more than you promise and more than they expect.&nbsp; There's no better way to get more business than to increase sales to your existing clients.&nbsp; If they always get more than they expected--they'll come back for more.</li> <li>Customers who are so satisfied with your work want to tell their friends.&nbsp; Not because they want to help you, but because they want to help their friends.&nbsp; Good people have a desire to help others.&nbsp; Very satisfied customers are your best marketing tool.&nbsp; And instead of costing you money for marketing -- they pay you for your services and send you more business.</li> <li>Once you've made contact with someone in person and started to develop the relationship, then use technology to keep in touch with them.&nbsp; But don't forget it's all about communication.&nbsp; It's all about being of service to them first--offering value to them in every contact you make.&nbsp; Based upon your time and business situation, you should keep in touch with them using the following methods: 1) Meeting in person, 2) By telephone, 3) A personal note or card, 4) Email--personally, 5) Bulk email or newsletter, 6) Social networking.&nbsp; A good contact database is very important and I'll discuss that in another article.</li> </ul> <p><br /><strong>Your best Marketing Effort will be to build a network of people who know you, people who like you and people who trust you!!&nbsp; </strong>Building that trust is all about your relationship with them.&nbsp; It's all about being of service to them first.&nbsp; Then they will want to be of service to their friends and to you.&nbsp; Start today and never stop building your network.&nbsp; Build your circle of influence--like ripples from a drop of water in a pond.&nbsp; Marketing is all about the network!&nbsp; It's all about your network.</p> <p>Have a Great Day,</p> <p>Rusty Lee</p> 2009-07-18T00:58:16Z 2009-07-18T15:50:57Z -5.18801 179 5548 true 15 29437 marketing-its-all-about-the-network 4 2009-07-18T08:50:23Z 2009-07-18T15:50:57Z

Marketing your small business can be one of the most daunting challenges you'll face. It's especially difficult when you are the Chief Everything Officer. Put the power of the network to work in your marketing efforts......

1 2009-07-18T15:50:57Z