ARE YOU READY??

Well, with the election behind us, we pretty much know what we'll be getting the next four years!

So, will you be a spectator or a participant??

One of my highly esteemed clients said the other day, "If you expect the government to determine your success, you're in trouble."  WOW!  That nails it.

It's up to me to prosper in whatever economic environment I'm given - I can't change the environment, but I surely can change WHAT I'M DOING!!
 
So, for now, it's all about marketing....what products or services do I have that will make a difference for people or other companies.  Start with that.  Determine what makes you different and then tell the story:

ARE YOU READY TO DIG DEEP?

• Do you have a viable  marketing plan to execute? 

• What market segment are you going after first.  Be targeted, be specific. 

• What sector of your business will improve the bottom line the quickest??

Answer these three questons and you'll be among the first to garner that "out of the box" market share............

NEED HELP WITH ANY OF THIS?

Call Fred Taylor @ GTG Marketing  310-991-7098.....helping businesses define their customer, their market and their message for over 25 years !!!

Big money is back !!

Just today, Bloomberg reported the following:

May 17 (Bloomberg) -- Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania are leading a rebound in contributions to colleges as donors who held back during the recession are writing checks again following two years of a rising stock market.
Read more: http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=anC8AHf7aPSM&pos=11

So, at least we know, those who have money are getting back to normal. Well, these are some real marketing lessons here:

1. First, people with money still have money, so if they're your target, go for it with gusto.

2. If your client or customer profile is more modest, get your plans ready to go for it. After all, first one in, on a recovery, gets the lion's share of market share when the dollars are flowing.

Playing catch up in sports or marketing is a real bad deal.......a bummer on steroids!

So, refine your customer, define his needs and message your services that meets his needs....oh, and hire some additional "intake" associates.

If you want to "bounce" a marketing idea you have off me, call Fred Taylor @ GTG Marketing @ 301-991-7098. And by the way, if your product is regional and big ticket, radio's the way to go [That's 25 years experience talking!] That's 310-991-7098

What on earth are you waiting for ??

In a recent Bloomberg article a couple weeks ago, they said: " Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity grew at a 4.4% rate in the final three months of last year - the fastest pace since the first quarter of 2006."

It's time to smell the roses. Every vendor, colleague and businessman I talk to is optimistic, albeit cauciously optimistic. So, don't you think it's time to get in the game.

No one who's ever played sports likes to play "catch up" in a game. Why do it in marketing? If you're not aggressively going after new clients right now, what on earth are you waiting for??

Companies that get a jump on the market will reap GREAT REWARDS in market share and revenues. If you've ever considered radio, give GTG Marketing a call at 310-991-7098. We do effective direct response radio marketing programs to generate tangible, measureable RESULTS.

Or learn more at.... http://gtgmarketing.com

Can you see customers from your office ? A case to keep marching!!

The business news continues to be uninspiring. Just this week, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley said slowing growth, “weak” job creation and declining inflation add up to a “wholly unsatisfactory” U.S. economy. “Given the outlook that the upturn appears likely to strengthen only gradually, it will likely be several years before employment and inflation return to levels consistent with the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate” for stable prices and maximum employment, Dudley said.

Similarly, Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said the effects of the financial crisis and the recession will be felt “for a long time” as the economy recovers.

So, what's a marketer to do?? Well, let's think about it. We could debate at length about the cause of the slow down, but that's yesterday's news. But let's do consider why businesses are sitting on "trillions of dollars" of cash. Or, why haven't you expanded you yourself expanded your business or invested in new marketing initiatives?? I suggest it's because hardly a week goes by that there isn't a new agenda item in Washington that plans more regulation, a greater burden to your business and another financial hoop to your bottom line.

This isn't a political blog, but what will be the consequences of the voter's backlash pundits anticipate on November 2nd? The freight train of expanding government control will be run off the tracks. And hence, the recovery can begin. It's all psychological. Once we as business owners can see a "horizon" we'll run for it with all our resources....more marketing, creative new ideas, maybe even a new "hire" along the way.


Yes, I CAN SEE NEW CUSTOMERS FROM MY OFFICE !!

How long should I sit on the sidelines ?

Everday there's more and more talk about recovery.

In Bloomberg today, check out this quote: "April 14(Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve said the economy expanded "somewhat" across most of the US in March as consumer spending and manufacturing improved, signaling the recovery is broadening without gaining much speed."

So, how's your advertising budget these days ?? Are you still waiting it out? Study after study indicates those companies who continue to advertise during the slow times gain BIG TIME when folks start buying again. It only makes sense. If you are regularly reminded about a product, when you're ready to buy, that's most likely the one you'll get.

It's time to jump back into the pool. Pick a budget you can live with, one that's comfortable, but pick a budget. Invest it wisely, on target, with a compelling ad that "positions" your product/service precisely...then, ENJOY your INCREASED MARKET SHARE when you read next month's post.

Customers bugging you ??

We've all done it from time to time....get frustrated over a client. Maybe they're not "buying" into our strategy, not spending what we'd hoped for or anticipated.

What to do? It brings to mind one of the many valuable things my Daddy taught me years ago - be THANKFUL - even long beyond the namesake holiday. In fact, live in an attitude of thankfulness.

Why ? Well, it keeps things in perspective. After all, aren't we there to serve the client, not them serving us. REMEMBER that when the going gets a little tough, our services must be on their terms, meeting their needs, not ours.

Without those precious clients, how long would you keep your doors open? Actually, without those clients, would there be a reason to open the doors each day?

I've heard it said and maybe you have as well, at the end of the day, my attitude WILL DETERMINE my altitude in my pursuits - keep on keeping on as we all get better in this challenging business environment.

Go ahead, call up one of your customers, big or small, and thank them for their business. NOTE their response !! IT WORKS !!

Where's your focus ?

You're driving your vehicle down to your favorite spot at the beach to "clear your head" and get some sorely needed fresh air.

What are you looking at ?? The steering wheel, speedo, hood ornament or are you carefully focused on the road itself about a mile out?

The analogy is obvious - any focus other than way down the road will spell disaster. Aren't our businesses just like that ?

If we don't keep a long term perspective, the "events" of the day may well bring destruction to our well crafted business plan. Short term bumps in the road have a great way of making our "end game" very cloudy.

KEEP a sharp eye on what's important today, but NEVER, EVER lose sight of the big picture, the long view.