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  • Marketing is What You Do and What You Say

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    A lot of marketers get caught in the trap of figuring out what to say to get the sale. Then, well, then things go south a bit.

    Long term, marketing is really more about what you do, deliver, execute, or innovate than it is about a new slogan. Hey, I’m not saying that a simple, impactful slogan can’t go a long way towards capturing people’s attention, I’m just saying that where your external and internal realities meet is where the money is made.

    The best compliment I ever get from a client or prospect is, “you practice what you preach.” I’m the first to admit, I don’t always live up to this myself. But, when I don’t, when small business owners don’t, it’s usually because a few things need fixing.

      And what are those?:

    • You need to figure out who makes an ideal client for you and forget the rest
    • You need to get a handle on how your firm is unique and stop copying others in your industry
    • You need to make sure you are still passionate about the business you are in or go get a job

    Harsh words, maybe, let’s all wake up this year and kick some butt!

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    Posted by: John Jantsch on Jan 05, 07 | 6:06 pm
    Category: Vision | Tags:

    View Comments
    • I agree with you wholeheartedly, especially on your first item of the ideal client and applying it to existing clients. As business owners, we sometimes hold on to all existing clients, maybe because they have a great brand or maybe because we used to work there! However, not all clients should be kept. It seems to me if a client is not going to be worthwhile in the long term, it may not be a client to keep. On the other hand, we should take a look at how to keep our best clients, and then go and do something for them!

      Now excuse me while I go and review my client list...

      Becky
    • <pingback>... in Church Marketing. This post by John at Duct Tape Marketing caught my attention and is especially relevant for churches seeking to impact their communities and the world. In essence the article is about Practicing What You ...</pingback>
    • I couldn't agree more! I do think that a powerful slogan can also energize a business (or at least the business owner) and help put in motion the things that need to be done from a marketing standpoint. For example, I recently changed my own slogan to "Giving Business Owners Freedom by Managing the BS, etc." because my website URL is www.bsetc.ca and my business' name is Business Services, ETC. Once I laid out the groundwork for that (after two years of being in business), I really felt energized about what it is I do and who I want to serve.
    • Back when I was a young kid in Texas, my brother and I used to be babysat by a lady who was all business. If we were caught doing something we shouldn't, we knew punishment would be doled out by making us grab a "switch" from the tree outside so she could swat our behinds.

      That memory brought to the forefront of my mind because of that last bullet point. Talk about an eye opener. I don't think I'll be sitting down for awhile.

      thanks, really. Needed that little wakeup call.
    • Amen to that!
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