I love getting questions from readers, fans and followers! I got an interesting question over the weekend and just had to share it because it really made me sit back and think. The question was “What is the best way to market my business?”. It’s a good question but a pretty broad one. Marketing for each business is different because of the type of business and its industry. Although there is no specific answer, here are 5 questions to ask yourself when preparing to market your business.
5. What is my purpose?
Many entrepreneurs go into business because of an experience they had.
Sometimes, it’s not the best reason to go into business. You have to be passionate about your business. This will help get you through the non-fun parts. Knowing your purpose also helps you stay true to the mission of the business and what you are trying to accomplish.
4. What is the need?
What is the problem that you are trying to solve? What solution are you offering to customers to lessen the burden of this problem? For example, mosquitoes are a big problem in North Carolina. That’s why I love the service the Mosquito Squad offers. Every 21 days they spray a barrier around the home to get rid of 90% of the mosquito population.
3. Who is my target audience?
You hear this question a lot but it’s a great one. You need to know who is going to purchase your products and services. What do they like to do? Where do they enjoy spending leisure time? What are their habits? Be as specific as possible. Your marketing budget will thank you for answering this question.
2. What is your marketing budget?
So many businesses never establish their marketing budget. They go from month-to-month or from sale-to-sale, never planning how their marketing dollars are going to be spent. This is dangerous because you could spend more money on your marketing than the income of the sales that you are generating. Not planning your budget can be a cash flow issue. Plan your marketing budget to track your efforts accordingly.
1. How much time do I have?
This is the biggest question that most entrepreneurs, especially solopreneurs, do not ask themselves. Time is the biggest factor when planning your marketing. It takes time to set-up the marketing plan and implement the strategies. Check your calendar and planner to make sure that you have time for your company’s marketing.
Is there another marketing question that you ask yourself or your staff? Let us know in the comments section. Which one did you like most?
Photo: Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos
Great post. Sometimes many companies, big and small overlook the first step (#5). Once you figure out your purpose, you may find out you figured it wrong and you are in the wrong business!
Happy Blogging,
your 31 Day Blogging Challenge Friend!
Thanks so much for your comment Pam!
Hi Kristen,
It so simply put but the 5 questions are fundamental ones that business owners need to look at before jumping in. I like Q1 and Q2 about budget and time. As solopreneurs, we often do everything ourselves including marketing (that’s why I love your post on call in “The Specialist”. While it’s great to set big goals, it’s also important to be realistic and know you only have 24 hours a day. On budget, we want to reach everyone but looking at your marketing budget, it’s probably unlikely it will allow us to do so. Yes, marketing and implementing the strategies take time! Boy do I know that 🙂
Thanks for reading Diana! I’m glad you liked it. So many of us don’t realize the time factor until we jump in!