What
is YOUR Definition of Marketing?
What
I have discovered through my experience of marketing is, it’s
all in how we define it. We can think of marketing the way most of us
do which puts us in the box of making cold calls, knocking on doors,
going to numerous networking groups, sending out mail, speaking, the
list goes on and on of what we have known. The simple definition of
marketing is: letting your audience know what you do. From this simple
idea, it’s up to you how you want to market. You have complete
freedom in “how”.
Here’s
the bottom line!
No
Marketing = No Clients = No Money = No Business!
HOWEVER…
You
do get to Market YOUR WAY! You get to have FUN! and be extremely creative.
In fact, give yourself permission to market YOUR WAY and change the
formula above to:
Market
YOUR Way = More Confidence = Attract more clients =
A THRIVING BUSINESS!
Now, let’s
change your definition and Guess What…your definition will be
different from each businessperson you meet. We are all unique. We choose
different business paths; wear different clothes; drive different cars;
have different viewpoints—our marketing approach should be just
as unique?
Here are 3 examples
of “marketing” provided from entrepreneurs.
- I didn’t
like networking groups but thought I would try some out. My definition
of a networking group is this: It had to fit with my values, it had
to be fun, and the group had to come from a unique perspective. Most
of them were about collecting as many cards as you can. I tried 4
groups and one fit perfectly. EwomenNetwork
comes from “giving first” and they have a wonderful format
that gave me permission to ask for what I wanted. It was very safe,
very professional and very genuine. I’ve been a member for 3
years – it’s the only one I attend consistently.
- I have a Web
Design company and one of my passions is voyager canoeing. I began
to utilize outdoor-related themes in our marketing messages and promotions.
Most important, I decided that canoeing was also a great way to network.
As a professional woman business owner and an experienced canoe guide,
I developed a Ladies Voyageur Day. I hosted a group of entrepreneurial
women on a guided canoe trip. The event was so successful…read
more in Marketing
Ideas for Women in Business, a Marketing On The Playground™
Storybook.
- I had always
found marketing to be a distasteful chore. I was diligent and had
managed to stay busy as a consultant by networking and following up
on leads, but it was an unpleasant duty, and I avoided it whenever
possible. I think one of the best-kept secrets to becoming successful
at marketing is first choosing to be of service to a group of people
you truly care about. With my new mission in mind, all of a sudden,
marketing became effortless.
The clients I wanted to serve were people I really cared about, I
wanted to spend time with them. Instead of dreading networking events.
I began looking forward to them as a place to meet new people I could
help. Before, I had avoided business lunches…read more in Marketing
Ideas for Women in Business, a Marketing On The Playground™
Storybook.
To summarize our
3 marketing definitions:
- Giving first,
asking, “How can I help you forward your business, ”rather
than saying, “What do you do.”
- Creating a marketing
approach that doesn’t feel like marketing because I’m
doing what I love…Voyager Canoeing
- Being a service
to a group of people
OK, do you have
a new perspective on the definition of marketing? What are your thoughts
with the questions below?
- What was your
original definition of marketing and is it different
now?
- Did you give
yourself permission before this class to think of marketing ideas
outside of the box? If not, what permission will you give yourself
now?
There is a marketer
inside of all of us – it’s just a matter of identifying
the true, authentic marketing person inside of YOU.
For additional marketing
ideas see www.marketingideasforwomen.com
(By the way, the guys like it too)
Copyright ©
Beth Woodward, Marketing On The Playground™
Beth Woodward, CPCC,
CEK (Chief Executive Kid). Beth is the creator of the popular MY WAY
Marketing Plan™, Women’s “Brain” –Storming
On The Playground™, and is the author of the e-storybook Marketing
Ideas for Women In Business. Visit Beth at http://www.asimplemarketingplan.com