Last week we talked about the first five strategic marketing habits that would definitely keep you on your “P’s” & “Q’s”. I shared the definition of a value proposition we use here at Keep N It Haute, as well as why you need one and I concluded the post with how you could use it. This week I’m sharing the final 5 habits.
These habits aren’t necessarily instinctive in entrepreneurs, and in some cases, they are the hardest habits to master. For this reason, it’s not imperative that you master them, but it is important that you practice them. They say practice makes perfect and in this case, practice makes possible…achieving success that is. Practicing these habits or faking it ‘til you make it, is half the battle but it’s the half that wins the war.
Let’s dig right in, shall we. The first habit to keep you on your “P’s” & “Q’s” is being PROACTIVE. Don’t wait for the problem to arise, actively seek them out and solve them before they become a major issue in your business. This goes for areas like customer service, marketing, and your finances… Do everything in your power to ensure nothing falls between the cracks of your business. If you’ve ever participated in our Be The Brand VIRTUAL Bootcamp or our Be The Brand LIVE Workshop, you know what it means to use your replication of productive preferences as filters through which you run your brand decisions. If you haven’t, suffice it to say… once you understand how much of YOU is in your brand, you’ll have a governing source that helps you create policies & procedures which make being proactive a little easier.
Isn’t it interesting how brains work? Just this week, I was meeting with a potential client and she was telling me how she didn’t know if her current business model was the right one for her. She felt she had strayed from her original path. As I’m writing this blog post, I’m realizing the response I gave her brings me to the next habit. When you are clear about your niche and how you want to service it, it is easy to be PERSISTENT… You don’t have to spin your wheels trying to make the “wrong path” work, but instead you can capitalize on the opportunities that will most likely convert into a sale. You can be persistent! You know your product or service is meeting a need and you know you are the only one who can deliver that answer YOUR WAY. You can confidently pursue your consumer. The example I gave this potential client was this:
“Instead of paying for a vendor table just because one is being offered, be strategic and only pay for tables where you know your niche will be. This way, you’re not as consumed with making your money back in sales at the event (though you definitely want some), but instead you will (a.) connect with them, (b.) share when you typically run deals on the items they’re eyeing, (c.) add them to your email list (where you can make an even bigger sale later because it’s clear they want what you have to offer) and (d.) continue building rapport. This will most likely result in not only a higher sale, but also a loyal customer that refers friends.”
By doing all of this and adding them to the email list, she can be PERSISTENT! Get it? Now in this scenario, it is very important to know your niche. Not only who they are, but what they like, where they typically get their information, and most importantly…. How you can make yourself their super hero. This requires our next habit…. You should always be QUESTIONING the way you present your brand message to your consumer. Is it relatable? Does it meet a need? Does it peak interest? Does it provoke action? All great questions, but they are only the tip of the iceberg.
“Growth is a series of answered questions” ~Andrea Patrick – (your welcome, that’s an original…you’re welcome to use my quote where appropriate). The more information we have, the better decisions we make and the better our decisions, the more likely we are to achieving our goals. That said… question away!
Next on our list of the 10 strategic marketing habits to keep you on your “P’s” & “Q’s” is being POSITIVE. Positivity is often referred to as a “tape” that we play in our head. The problem is, the other side of that tape is negativity. That’s probably where most people find themselves. It’s hard to maintain your positivity when everything in your business seems to be crumbling at the exact same time.
The advice here is to STOP! LOOK! & LISTEN! The steps look like this:
- Stop the negative thoughts, words, actions IMMEDIATELY
- Look back from whence you’ve come and
- Listen to what you know to be true, thereby turning that tape over to the positive side.
Dark clouds have no place on a sunny day. As an entrepreneur, sometimes we have to find the silver lining and on those days where it doesn’t seem like one is there, practice this STOP, LOOK & LISTEN technique.
Our final habit, and in my opinion the most important, is to always pick QUALITY over quantity…. I learned a long time ago to value myself and what I bring to the table. If I’m careful to bring my A-Game, then by golly, I want quality from others. Don’t settle for anything but the best and that goes for the people with whom you partner, the clients with whom you choose to work, the events you attend, the people with whom you associate, the networking groups you join, the collaborations you agree too, and so on and so on… Surround yourself with like-minded people. Preferring quality over quantity means sometimes leaving the money on the table, but like Dr. Phil says… “If you do the deal for the money, you’ll earn every penny”. True, when I’ve heard him say this it’s in reference to marriages, but I think you see the parallel…
Developing strategic marketing plans will sometimes be difficult, but hopefully you will start practicing some of these habits and find your plans will get easier and easier as time goes by.
If you are still a little shaky, help is on the way. As you know, we are almost ready to launch The Haute Society and if you are struggling with developing strategies for you brand it’s in your best interest to find out a little more about everything The Haute Society has to offer. To be notified about open enrollment, click the link below:
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