Marketing Tips on a Budget

ConnectMagazine has an excellent article on marketing on a budget in the February 2008 issue.

I’d particularly like to highlight the section offered by Todd Wolfenbarger of The Summit Group because of the consulting nature of which he offered advice. He posed five excellent questions one should always ask when approaching a marketing/business problem.

“Is the product or service I’m offering different?”
“Is anyone willing to pay for this differentiation?”
“Can I communicate this message simply to those that will buy?”
“Can I get someone else to tell my story for me?”
“Can my product or service deliver on the promise I’m making?”

It really leads one to think about the market in which they offer products or services.
- What really makes your monthly internet marketing services or public relations retainer any different from another company here in Utah? If there isn’t anything, what could it be?

- Is anyone willing to pay for this differentiation? (Ie, outside of people you have a friendship with you. Be honest with yourself. How many of your customers are merely friends. Don’t get me wrong, friendships sell, but I’m wondering in my own business how many customers will just come to our door based on an easily understood differentiation. I’m also looking at new ways to solidify differentiation).

- Is your offering so simple to understand that it’s easy for others to describe what you do? How can you make it so?

- Does your product/service really deliver on the promises you make for it? Where is it weak? Where is it strong?