WHAT ARE THE COMMON ISSUES? Common issues relating to marketing include a fear of rejection – this is most common when you’re conducting sales. After a company has been in business for 15-20 years, issue of burnout and complacency often arises. You know you’re stuck when you never can seem to find time to unleash that marketing strategy you’d planned which, of course, is issue of procrastination—the queen of issues for so many of us! “Marketing therapy” resolves core issue underlying that procrastination. Often it surfaces as a marketing strategy that really isn’t a good fit for your particular business or skills. Sometimes you just need that step-by-step knowledge required to take action.

Conversely, fear of success, or of growing too fast, typically comes from overwhelming worry that you’ll have to work even more hours than you’re already cramming into each day. There’s another surprisingly common issue (to which women, in particular, often fall victim) – that of feeling like a fraud, or that you really “don’t know what you’re doing, and they’ll find out soon.”

If you’re a business owner with 10+ employees, you’ll often begin to feel ‘disassociated’ with your company, since you’re spending more time managing your employees, payroll, and systems rather than focusing on beloved product or service that prompted you to launch your business in first place. Depending on size of your business or organization, and length of time you’ve been in business, issues will be different. Even non-profit Executive Directors experience a kind of ‘dependency’ issue feeling torn between their obligation to their programs, members, and funders while simultaneously being answerable to their Board of Directors—or feeling let down by their Board’s lack of help.

FIND ME SOME BETTER CLIENTS Often, your perception (as a business owner or CEO) is that your marketing strategies or promotional materials aren’t working, when underlying cause is actually some unresolved issue. Sure, strategies or communications may not be strong enough to ensure company growth in this depressed economy. But it’s crucial to ensure that underlying issues aren’t crippling good marketing that you’re doing. That’s exactly how our services help.

For example, lately I have had many companies ask for help in finding “better” clients, rather than “more” clients or revenues. Frequently, this request is a signal that CEO and/or company’s employees are not enjoying their work with customers, or that customers (or clients) are feeling unsatisfied, anxious, or are difficult to please.

When we analyze business, our team of designers, writers, researchers, and strategists often uncover a basic issue with communications. Quite often clients are not being kept in loop, making them feel that they have no “control.” This, in turn, creates an undercurrent of negativity that revolves around how CEO and employees discuss clients’ projects, how they communicate with clients, and fact that maybe client is simply a bad fit for that company. It’s a vicious cycle, and becomes even more so over time.

The opportunities for getting free advertising for your product or services are limited only by your own imagination and energies. There are so many proven ways of promoting your own objectives without cost that it literally boggles mind just to think of listing them.

Ezine article writing: One way is to write an article relative to your particular expertise and submit it to all publications and media dealing in dissemination of related information. In other words, become your own publicity and sales promotions writer. Get word out; establish yourself as an expert in your field, and "tag-along" everything you write with a quick note listing your address for a catalog, dealership opportunity, or more information.

Participate in radio and TV talk shows: Another really good way is by becoming a guest on as many of radio and television talk shows or interview type programs as possible. Actually, this is much easier to bring about than most people realize. Write a letter to producer of these programs, then follow up with an in-person visit or telephone call. Your initial contact should emphasize that your product or service would be of interest to listeners or viewers of program - perhaps even saving them time or money.

Posting advertising circulars: Other ways of getting free or very inexpensive exposure include posting of advertising circulars on all free bulletin boards in your area, especially coin-operated laundries, grocery stores, and beauty and barber shops. Don't discount idea of handing out circulars to all shoppers in busy shopping centers and malls, especially on weekends. You can also enlist aid of middle school students in your area to hand out circulars door-to-door.

Use your business cards and envelops: Some of more routine methods include having a promotional ad relative to your product or service printed on front or back of your envelopes, business cards at time you have them printed with your return address.