The 5 Marketing Rules for Small Business Owners in 2009

When the global economy seems to be on meltdown and all around you, you are reading, watching and hearing bad news, it’s easy to get dragged in to a negative mindset.

If it’s happening to M&S and Woolworths, than it can happen to you, too!

Wrong.  As a self-employed professional who runs your own business, you have many advantages over the big brands.  You probably have very little in the way of overheads.  And you have the ability to be flexible and highly adaptable.  There is no reason why you can’t be successful whilst others around you get sucked down.

But there is no question you are going to have work smarter.  Not harder – just smarter.

These are the marketing rules that I am abiding by this year.

1. Be Focused. Now we are in full flow social media marketing, it’s easy to get dragged in to the likes of Facebook and Twitter, spending hours clicking links and watching videos.  But ignore these marketing tools at your peril.  Embrace these tools but be focused. Have a plan for each one, automate as much as possible and focus your time so you have the conversations and get straight back to your other marketing and business actions.

2. Be Proactive. Don’t just wait for business to come your way.  This year you have to go out and get amongst it.  Follow every lead up, reply to every email, return every call.  If you get complacent or feel like a duvet day, then expect your competitors to be the winners.  Be bold, be brave, be proactive.

3. Be Niche. If you haven’t embraced the rules of niche marketing, then this is the year to.  Woolworths is a great example of what not to do:  they tried to be everything to everyone and just couldn’t compete with the likes of Tesco and Amazon.  The more focused you are on what you offer your target clients, the more likely your marketing is going to reach out and grab their attention.

4. Be an Expert. Once you know your niche, make sure you own it.  Write articles, speak at conferences, be at the right events, get interviewed.  Become the one person that your potential clients think of when they have the problem you are able to solve.

5. Be Positive. Even when you may feel down on a Monday morning, make sure you are telling everyone how great business is.  If you are active on Facebook, Twitter or your blog, it is especially important that your messages are upbeat and positive.  Be honest, by all means, but if you feel crap and write about it from a negative point of view on the internet – its there for ever.  You want to attract potential clients – not repel them!

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