1. You are tracking your numbers properlyGet clear on the money side of your business. If you aren't clear then everything else is muddy.
Use software such as QuickBooks to keep track of income and expenses. Use our amazing tracking
tool to keep track of your bookings and to know if you are on track to reach your Optimistic Number. If you don't have the tracking
tool then you must attend one of my Growing Your Business with Confidence events! (My next one is January 7, 2011.)
2. You have a defined O.D.I. payment scheduleAs business owners we have roles, responsibilities, expectations, and we have a compensation package. This is referred to as our Owner's Discretionary Income or O.D.I.
Decide now what you're going to pay yourself and then decide when. The 1st and 15th? Every Friday?
If it terrifies you to pay yourself first before taking care of expenses this is a very good thing. You will do a MUCH better job of marketing. This is going to make you pick up the phone, this is going to make you follow-up, this is going make you talk to more people at a networking event, etc.
Start marketing to pay yourself vs. marketing to pay your bills. Amazing things are going to happen!
3. You execute a mix of primary strategiesThere are 8 core marketing strategies:
- Networking
- Advertising
- Showcase
- Telemarketing
- Trade show
- Advocate
- Direct Mail
- Publicity
You should be working with 3 primary strategies. Primary means that you are executing the strategy monthly. Which 3 will you pick?
4. You have a clear profile of your right fitNot everyone in the world is a good client for you. So, why are you marketing to everyone?! Put together your profile of your right fit with demographic parameters and environmental triggers. When you have your profile then you will start 'seeing' your right fit and marketing becomes SO much easier.
5. You have a payoff in your messaging What is your call to action in your marketing messages? You need to be very clear in how they can contact you AND offer them something special by contacting you. Perhaps a free report, a free 20-minute consultation, an article, etc.
The magic is in the mix, .
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