What Every New Business Needs To Know About Marketing

In being considered a small to medium-sized business specialist we get the question (either from prospective clients or hypothetically) - What is the one thing you would tell any new or small business owner to get them started on the right path? That one's easy!

If we're consulting with you, one of the first things you'll hear is "Your customer only needs/wants to hear one piece of information from you in any advertising/marketing message. The answer to the question: 'What's in it for me?!?' How is your product or service going to make his or her life better."

If you think about it that question is asked and answered with EVERY PURCHASE you make. Whether it's your home purchase (perhaps it's in the right school district, convenient to your work, is in the "right neighborhood, etc.) the clothes you buy (how do they make you feel, how do you look in that color?) or the church you attend (good minister, lots of friends attend, etc.). Literally every purchase you make is done so by evaluating the simple question of "what's in it for me?"

So, I would tell any new business, small business, or established business looking for a fresh coat of paint that they should carefully examine what they are providing to their potential customer base that will enrich their lives in some manner and carefully craft a specific value proposition from there. One that can translate over to business identity, advertising, website presence, etc.

It's not an easy task but one that businesses cannot thrive without.