Take this quick quiz to see how well you know and understand your prospects. If you can't answer these questions, how can you be sure you are connecting with your audience in a relevant and meaningful way?

How can you be sure you are reaching them with a compelling message about your product or service?

How can you be sure you are tapping into conversation they are already having inside their own head with respect to your product or service?

I would argue you can't. And if you can't do these things, your marketing will not be effective.

1. Who are they?

2. Where do they live ... work ... play?

3. What problem do they have that you can solve?

4. How does your product or service fit into their life?

I challenge you to evaluate one of your recent ads, promotions or other marketing activities to see how it measures up.

1.Does it focus on solution or benefit you provide?

Too often ads simply list product or service features. Don't make your prospects work that hard to figure out how your product or service can help them. Tell them straight out.

2.Does it have one, clear message?

What's one message you want to communicate? Make sure it's not buried in too much information or it may not get across.

3.Is it focused on one, specific group of prospects?

Do you know who you are talking (and marketing) to? Make sure your marketing is targeted at one, specific group of prospects - it's only way to make sure you are addressing their needs.

4.Is it written in language these prospects can relate to?

If you want your message to resonate with your prospects, make sure it speaks to them, both in content and in tone and language you use.

5.Does it feature your Unique Selling Proposition?