WMF's blog

I blogged here the other day about what marketing isn't....

...this morning I listened to the replay of a teleclass from Joe Vitale and Craig Perrine about some of the principles in their new book 'Inspired Marketing'. In the process I came across a lovely definition of marketing which I wanted to share.

Here is it:

"Marketing is sharing your enthusiasm for what you have, with the people who most want to hear it", Joe Vitale

No definition of marketing is perfect, but that's a great one, in my book.

By Alice Elliott, Alice Designs, http://www.alice-designs.co.uk

If you read my post last week on referral postcards, you can have a chance to view what I mean by visiting http://www.alice-designs.co.uk/postcards.html. This idea has also been adapted into a feedback form (also shown) to gain more marketing knowledge about what your customers really want.

What is marketing, anyway?

Definitions abound, but one thing marketing isn't, is simply pushing your name out there randomly to anyone who will listen.

Instead, it’s about building relationships. Avoid blowing your entire marketing budget on a single marketing method, such as advertising, and focus on investing your time, energy and imagination into starting and developing closer ties with potential, current and past customers.

As with any relationship, trust is scant at the beginning. You don't know them, they don't know you.

It's simple common sense to control expenditure, but don't skimp on the important things. For example, in your marketing, ensure that you make good use of low-cost and no-cost marketing tools such as referrals, fusion marketing and testimonials, but don't have an unprofessional looking website done 'on the cheap' which could potentially damage your reputation and credibility.

Make sure you have a clear reason and justification for all expenditure, including your time. A great principle when it comes to how you spend your time is to do only

You know it. I know it. Creating delighted customers and raving fans of your company is hugely important for ensuring the ongoing success of any business.

You hear plenty of lip service being paid to providing excellent customer service, but how many companies have you experienced as a customer that have provided you with truly outstanding, overwhelmingly fabulous service? Service that means you'll never forget that company and that has earned your undying loyalty?

By Alice Elliott, Alice Designs, http://www.alice-designs.co.uk

Are you able to be the cheapest in your field? Do you want to be the cheapest? The answer to both questions is very probably not.

Naturally enough, very few small companies are able to be the market leader on price. That's a tactic used mainly by the big guys, because they can afford to make up for low margins with huge volumes.

So what about the rest of us? How do we price our products and services to achieve the best possible profit without excluding potential customers?

By Tracey Dooley, copywriter, marketing strategist, and editorial and creative consultant, http://www.MediaMinister.co.uk

Whether you're looking for that winning headline, a catchy strapline, are stuck with your marketing or are putting off doing those jobs you rather not do, here's something that might help get you in the flow:

1. Check out what your competitors are up to. Sometimes just looking through others' promotional stuff can trigger a fantastic idea or two.

by Biana Babinsky, Online Marketing Expert of http://www.avocadoconsulting.com

Your web site is where you do business online. That is where people can sign up for your newsletter, read your blog, buy your products and register for your teleseminars. In order to get newsletter sign-ups, blog readers, buyers for your products and attendees for your teleseminars, you need people to come to your web site, which means you need web site traffic.

By Patricia Weber, Sales Accelerator Coach of http://www.prostrategies.com

Recession talk can suck anyone into a vortex of negativity. Salespeople just can't afford this. Top salespeople rarely have this happen because of certain thinking and behavioral patterns. Here is a summary of top seven secrets of top salespeople.