How to Avoid the Top 10 Marketing Mistakes Businesses Make When Times Get Tough - Carolyn Stafford

I was concerned to read in a recent article that approximately 8,000 businesses are predicted to fail in the next 12 months*. A sobering thought which really got me thinking - about the 10 most common marketing mistakes that businesses make when the going gets tough – and how powerful it would be to share that information and help other businesses learn from these mistakes. Even more importantly, if you are making any of them yourself – you can apply our suggested remedy to change course right now so that your business not only survives the times, but that it thrives in them, now and in the future.

You see, over the years, I’ve worked with thousands of business owners who have shared their experiences and their stories of what works and what doesn’t and I’ve observed a distinct pattern in what most businesses typically do when times get tough. In the panic and wake of rising interest rates and fuel prices, slowing sales and overall lack of confidence in the slowing economy, they make a fatal mistake.

THEY STOP MARKETING!

Despite this gloomy news, the slowing economy and tough times ahead, you can avoid becoming a statistic. How? By focusing on this vital area that so many businesses ignore when sales slow down. Yes - MARKETING.
*Source: www.smartcompany.com.au 7 August 2008

What I have found is that when the going gets tough….the smart get marketing!

You see, the smart business owners see current challenges as an opportunity to do things differently - to use their existing resources such as people, ideas, customers, databases - and make the most of what they already have. Often without spending anything more at all.

Of course, it makes perfect sense to review your cost base, reduce expenditure and excess resources. However before you go retrenching staff or slashing your marketing budget in a desperate attempt to save dollars, have a good think about what is the purpose of marketing. The purpose of marketing is to generate quality leads and get new business. Reducing expenses is one thing – but you can only trim the fat so
far. Once you’ve done that, it’s vital you focus on what will actually expand your business and keep more business flowing in the door. Not just for today, but for the months and years ahead. The last thing you can afford to do at times like these is drop all your marketing activity and start fading from people’s minds… after all, you’ve put in time and energy to have them notice you already, now you need to stay there!

Like so many small business owners, I have had to take a step back and re-visit my business model, my marketing tactics and take a reality check on what’s working and what’s not. So this report brings with it not only 20 plus years of marketing experience I’ve had in big business and small, but my own personal experience as a small business owner myself. In other words, it’s written for you – by someone like you
who has tried just about everything and knows what works and what doesn’t!

Here are the top ten marketing mistakes business owners make when times get tough.

For the full report and remedies click here>>

Mistake #1
They lose sight of the big vision – for their life and their business.

For the full report and remedies click here>>

About Carolyn Stafford

Carolyn Stafford is a small business marketing expert who has helped thousands of business owners increase their sales through refreshingly simple yet effective, proven marketing tactics that work. With over 20 years’ marketing experience with businesses small, medium and large, Carolyn is known as the ‘No BS Marketer’, thanks to her down-to-earth ‘tell it like it is’ approach.

Author of the book Small Business Big Brand, Carolyn has appeared in media such as The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, The Age, SkyNews, Marketing Magazine,Dynamic Small Business, Growth Business and more. Carolyn is an international presenter, mentor and keynote speaker who has educated and inspired over 10,000 business owners around the world on how to improve their marketing. For more information contact Connect Marketing Professionals on 1300 886 107 or email info@connectmarketing.com.au