Make These Six Marketing and PR New Year Resolutions for 2012
As the New Year approaches, consider making some New Year's Resolutions when it comes to your overall marketing - including your email marketing, PR and social media marketing. What are things you could start doing, or do differently or better?
Here are some resolutions that should be on every small businesses "resolutions" to-do list:
1. Invest in Marketing. Despite the nationwide recession, companies should continue to invest in marketing. Pulling back marketing dollars during a slow period will only make you slower in the long run. Those that market their businesses during the good and bad economies are the ones that will still be here when all is said and done.
2. Fully Commit to Social Media. Many companies have resisted the urge to do social media - and they may be finally realizing they're missing out on huge marketing potential. Consider investing in one or two social media marketing activities - like a blog and Facebook page. Hire the right person to help you shine and do it right.
3. Blog Regularly. Many of you already have business blogs set up, but so few of you are blogging weekly (at least). Commit to blogging at least once per week, more if possible. Long term and frequent blogging truly pays off - we can attest to that first hand! Also try to blog more strategically. Use keywords in your headlines and throughout your post. Be smart about how you blog. Quality and quanitity both matter!
4. Be Proactive, Not Reactive. So many small businesses get caught up in the latest sales person call. In fact, one of my clients almost got talked into a $10K advertising investment that wasn't right for her business just because of a pressured sales call. Many business owners (you know who you are!) get roped into "remnant ad" buying. Such purchases are impulse buys and not STRATEGIC purchases. If you want to do advertising in the New Year, plan which magazines or websites you want to be in and the frequency of the ads and then negotiate from there. Don't wait for pressured sales calls to get you buy ads impulsively. You stay in the driver's seat and centered on your strategy - not theirs!
5. Work with a Professional. I see many business owners going at it alone. It can get lonely out there - and keeping up with all that needs to be done is daunting. Show yourself and your customers that your'e running a REAL business by investing in the things that are important (like marketing) and not running yourself ragged trying to do everything yourself. A PR or marketing firm can help you come up with a strategic and creative plan to promote your business throughout 2012 and beyond.
6. Work Smarter, Not Harder. And speaking of running yourself ragged... give yourself a break. Don't try to do it all and be everything to everyone. This year, enjoy being a business owner and outsource the stuff that is taking you away from growing your business. Resolve to work SMARTER, not HARDER!
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