10 Marketing Mistakes to Easily Avoid

10 Marketing Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid

When marketing is not your core business it's easy to make simple mistakes. But all it takes is a marketing professional to provide some friendly direction. The following 10 Marketing Mistakes can be easily avoided by recognising them and then having a plan of action that doesn’t repeat them. Some of them may require that you get out of your comfort zone, and that can be challenging. But perseverance will provide you with great outcomes – and surprisingly cost-effective marketing.

Mistake #1 Undervaluing Yourself

People buy you at the price you put on yourself. You have skills that are required by a sector of the marketplace. Marketing is, basically, about getting out there and providing your customers with what they want better than your competitors do. Don't make it even harder on yourself by undervaluing your products or services.

Mistake #2 Not Investing

Whilst you have invested money and time to GAIN the skills you have, you must also invest time, money and energy in learning to market yourself and your business. Commit now to learning better marketing skills (so enquire now about Insanely Clever Marketing seminars and on-line learning).

Mistake #3 Being Unprepared

Ensure you think about preparing your marketing in the same way you prepare the other aspects of your business. You have a stake in the outcome of your business so take a more hands-on and prepared approach to marketing, because you have a stake in the outcome that may be the difference between being IN business and being OUT of it.

Mistake #4 Not Writing

No-one expects you to be a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, but you should be able to clearly and persuasively put your ideas on paper. If you can't organise and express yourself how can you expect customers to understand your marketing messages?

Mistake #5 Not Leveraging the Internet

Effectively using and leveraging the power of the internet is not about having an on-line business. There are numerous internet marketing options such as a well-constructed website, quality e-newsletter, writing articles for on-line magazines & directories, and writing an interesting blog (enquire now about the Insanely Clever Marketing on-line Internet Marketing course).


Mistake # 6 Not Mastering Networking

Businesses are run by people, and people do business with other people. Networking is one of the most powerful, and cost-effective, marketing tactics you can employ. If you are not confident about how to behave and what to say at networking events, then seek the help of someone who can teach you simple networking skills.

Mistake # 7 Avoiding Public Speaking

It's not for everyone, in fact most people hare speaking in public. But it is a skill worth developing. Not only will you gain confidence but you can achieve leverage by speaking to many people at one time, not just one person. Your sales / persuasion skills will also improve. Consider joining a professional public speaking club (such as Rostrum or Toastmasters) or offer to speak to small, friendly groups, such as a Rotary Club, to gain some experience. Remember, the audience will be thinking "I'm glad that's not me" not "What an idiot that guy is".

Mistake # 8 Remaining Silent

Ask for what you want. Don't remain silent because you think you may cause offence or lose a sale. Because remaining silent will ensure those things happen. You can confidently ask for what you want in a friendly manner – ask for time, ask for a meeting, ask for information. (If you lack sales confidence, contact Insanely Clever Marketing for information on our non-manipulative sales course)

Mistake # 9 Failing to Implement

If you implement even a fraction of what you know, you could be more successful than you can imagine. You need to create strategies and implement tactics, implement action plans, timelines and systems to measure responses and outcomes. Implement to make things happen!

Mistake # 10 Failing to Take Risks

Seth Godin said it all very well in 'The Purple Cow' – why play it safe? You don’t have to be an irresponsible idiot but you do need to stand out form the crowd. Do something you haven't done before. Get outside your comfort zone. Go on, give it a go? What could you lose? But what could you GAIN? Remember, the sweetest fruit is on the highest branch.

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