How To Get Your Marketing Back On Track

How's business?

Yeah, I know, that was an obvious question that probably hit a raw pain point.

Your marketing efforts aren't working out the way you'd like, and not only that, but it made you LOOK BAD in the process, right?

When I talk with businesses about their marketing efforts, the ones who are the most ready to shoot "marketers" are ones getting 15 cents for every dollar they spend on marketing. No WONDER they are so mad!

Granted, you do have to test different marketing techniques, and not all work.

But if your approach isn't systematic and measurable, you will never know what changes to make. As a result, many choose to do nothing. By then it's too late and the damage is done. They're hosed, end of story.

And, who am I to know? I am President of Rescott Marketing and Technology. Our marketing site is www.RescottMarketing.com in case you want to check our credentials. For over twelve years, we've assisted our clients in creating the most effective internet marketing tools for their unique needs. I've seen what works and what doesn't. I've spoken on expert panels and in front of thousands of business executives just like you who need answers to but one simple question: "Why can't I make money in my business?"

My answer to them is usually one like, "You are probably not marketing it right". Now, I can't tell you the best suppliers to buy your materials from, or where to find the best trained employees, or the technical aspects of what

you sell, but I can usually tell you why folks aren't buying your product or service, and help you fix it. I even guarantee it.

Yes, you read that right. I guarantee that my marketing system works or I refund your money. But more on that later.

"The Three Marketing Fish- Only One Will Survive"

It's a tough time for many organizations right now, perhaps even for yours.

The way I see it, when it comes to marketing, both you and your competitors can be viewed as one of three kinds of fish:

-The GulliFish:They believe in anything, from the door to door marketing sales man to the internet email promising a 50% increase in web site hits. They spend, spend, spend, looking for the magic bullet, but have no way to gauge their success or revenue from their marketing efforts. They often will turn into FlounderFish.

-The FlounderFish: They believe in pulling back on all of their marketing efforts until the economy improves, riding out the storm until the sun shines again and birds start singing Kumbaya. By that time, it is usually too late. Just as good as dead.

-The Piranha: They smell blood, and are looking forward to a nice GulliFish or FlounderFish dinner with smart planning, effective implementation, testing and results monitoring. They want market share at a smart price, which they can get in this economy.

"Get Out Your Shotgun!"

Like the ambulance chaser, so-called marketing experts chase unsuspecting business executives wanting to sell them "#1 Spot on Google", "increase in 50% web site hits", and other sleight of hand tricks.

These guys look for unsuspecting owners who end up shot-gunning their marketing dollars towards every scam as well as legitimate marketing campaign.

But, do nothing, you get nothing. Stop your marketing, and your business will likely become obsolete. Especially now in this economy.

"But I Don't Know Anything About Marketing"

It breaks my heart to see so many businesses chase their tails on the whim of the new guy on the block selling snake oil. At a recent Entrepreneurship Leadership conference that I had the opportunity to serve as an expert panelist on, I asked the audience of nearly 40 business owners how many had a marketing plan or any kind of marketing strategy in place. Only two, that's 5%, had one, leaving them open to anything and everything, and getting nothing.

That means that most likely, most were shot gunning their marketing dollars after every latest marketing fad. That's why I wrote this article…

"You Need A Plan!"

The marketing landscape is changing quickly. Years ago, marketing a business was more traditional in nature. You know the kind- print ads, brochures, trade shows, Yellow Pages, TV and radio advertising, fancy business cards, and so on.

Now, the proverbial paradigm has taken a major shift. Now, it's New Media: social networking, web sites, streaming videos, blogs, podcasting, Google sponsored ads, community-based advertising, and more.

Don't get me wrong. Print is NOT dead, contrary to what many internet
marketing firms would lead you to believe. However, it IS rapidly succumbing to New Media. Why? In a recent survey by Piper Jaffray and Company, the cost per lead for Search Engine advertising was 45 cents compared to Yellow Page
advertising, which was $1.18 per lead. Direct mail was a whopping $9.94 per lead!

With traditional and new media, we've identified over 200 different ways you can spend your marketing dollars and time. So, how do you make sense of it all? You need a plan. You need a plan. You need a plan.

There are marketing plan software packages out on the market that can help you get started. But they don't hold your hand through the process and keep you accountable for your marketing efforts. Rescott created a Stealth Marketing System for small to medium sized businesses who need effective results quickly- guaranteed! But, more on that later. Right now, I want to arm you with critical information that will help you prevent the most common mistakes in marketing that business executives make.

Where can you get this critical information? Simple. Go to my special micro-site, www.StealthPlan.com, and download my complete report.

In the report, you''ll learn:

-The single most expensive mistake most small business owners make when it comes to marketing their business.

-The universal misconception business owners have about their marketing, and how it can end up costing between $9,000 to as much as $60,000 in perception damages.

-5 Critical things every small business should know when writing their USP.

-7 Questions you need to know the answers to or you risk bankruptcy.

-How to greatly reduce - or even completely eliminate - frustrating results, shotgun approaches, and other marketing realities marketers don't tell you.

-How to avoid sending your money down the virtual sinkhole with our "double or nothing" guarantee.

If you are serious about staying in business, or moving past your competitors, then I promise you that the report is well worth the read.But it is available for download for a limited time, so get your free copy now!

Toby Reeves is President of Rescott Marketing and Technologies, a 12 year old new media consulting firm. Toby has spoken on expert panels and in front of thousands of business executives who need answers like, "Why can't I make money in my business."