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  • Marketing Is The Voice of Your Passion

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    Too many small businesses go to the grave with their music still inside them. (Yes, I borrowed from Oliver Wendell Holmes here.)

    The most successful small business owners I have encountered have two things in common – they are passionate about what they do and they effectively use marketing to spread this passion.

    Many of the small business owners I meet do possess the first ingredient – passion. In fact passion alone can carry a business. But, voicing that passion is where the ball gets dropped. Instead of an original voice of passion, most small business owners rely on the tiny echo created by simply copying what they see others in their industry doing.

    What if you simply looked at what drives you to do what you do and found a way to share that, authentically, with the world. What if you discover the exact type of client that placed a very high value on what you have to offer. What if your marketing message communicated, in a truly stunning manner, how much you love what you do and how much you love bringing what you do to other people.

    What if you shared your story, good and bad, knowing that, even if it was unconventional, there would be people who connected with it and found it contagious.

    Find and describe a narrow ideal client description – a client that shares your passion. Find a message that allows people to get what you do, why you are different and how they can get some of what you have to share. Start singing damn it!

    That’s what marketing really is you know. Sharing your passion. Don’t hold back wondering if others in your industry will think you are odd. Don’t listen to that little voice in your head telling you to conform. Just do it, give your enthusiasm for your business a voice. Don’t let your business die with the music waiting to get out.

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    Posted by: John Jantsch on Sep 20, 06 | 3:03 pm
    Category: Vision | Tags:

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    • <pingback>...John Jantsch’s Duct Tape Marketing blog offers a different perspective: Marketing is the Voice of Your Passion. “What if your marketing message communicated, in a truly stunning manner, how much you love what you do and how much you ...</pingback>
    • <pingback>...marketing, much easier. John Jantsch’s from Duct Tape Marketing says “Marketing is the voice of your passion:” The most successful small business owners I have encountered have two things in common - they are passionate about ...</pingback>
    • John Jantsch
      Andrew,

      I think one of the best ways to get the leverage to say something different is to go to four or five competitors and study the first paragraph from each of their websites.

      My experience is that it will become painfully clear that each is saying the exact same thing - and not a very compelling same thing.

      My guess is that you can step up and create a unique message without reaching too far outside your comfort zone.
    • You make a great point about echoing what others in your industry are doing. Its a risk to do something differently, but you'll never outperform your competition if you're imitating them.

      So how do you find the courage to take that risk? How do you push yourself outside your comfort zone?
    • Great post!

      If I worry about what others think about what I'm saying - I'll just have to sit down and shut up because there is always someone who doesn't like something.

      I like that you stress not trying to do what you see othes doing. I'm trying to learn this and stop trying to be something I'm not and just enjoy the me I am - in my business as in my life.
    • John Jantsch
      Glenn,

      The ultimate compliment a consultant type can receive!

      Thanks
    • We can tell YOU are passionate about marketing and practice what you preach.
    • What a terrific post. One of the things I try to get across when talking with home-business owners, is that all marketing is just that – talking about your passion. If you're truly passionate about what you do, marketing comes naturally. The enthusiasm in your voice and excitement about your work is infectious. People like to work with people who really believe in what they do. As you said look at what drives you and find a way to share that, authentically, with the world. Great advice.

      It's so cool, that moment when you realize, "hey, I've been marketing all this time!"
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