Professional Marketing

Have you looked for marketing advice on the internet recently? There is no shortage of self-proclaimed 'gurus' from which to choose. But what kind of advice are they shilling out? Too often, it's over-the-top hype, blatant commercial ad copy and other tips designed for selling an inexpensive product to the general public.

When your target market is other businesses or involves a costly product or long-term service, these methods can be not only ineffective, but also often counter-productive. A more refined, image-conscious approach is required.

Professional marketing does not mean old-fashioned, traditional or boring. What it does mean is consistently viewing the big picture and the overall image you want to project. Yes, this sounds very similar to branding in traditional marketing. In a corporate or conservative climate, however, the techniques are more subtle and strategic. Very few CPAs use a catch phrase like "Don't squeeze the Charmin!"

Marketing is communicating. This communication consists of making your prospects aware of your existence and establishing a professional, esteemed public image of yourself and your product or service. Only after this foundation is successfully laid do features and benefits become part of your marketing program.

These two components should be factors in all activities, even those you may not have thought of as marketing. For example, how are telephone calls received at your office? Are they answered by a person or machine? How many times does the phone ring before it is answered? What are the first words heard by the caller and in what tone are they uttered? This is often the first contact a prospect will have with your business and can set an indelible impression of you and indicate how you do business.

Similarly, what does your business card say about you and your business? If your target market consists of corporate buyers at Fortune 500 companies, do you really want to have a tie-dyed neon pink pattern and a marijuana leaf as your logo?

Does every communication from your office exhibit your professionalism? Are your letters, brochures and emails grammatically correct? Do you proofread all documents?

Do you carry your business cards with you at all times? Do you introduce yourself to others and actively participate in industry associations? Do you dress in a style similar to that of your prospects? Do you remove your sunglasses from the top of your head and take the gum out of your mouth before calling on a prospect?

These are all factors in creating your professional image. They communicate an impression of the quality and value of you, your business and your product or service. This communication is professional marketing.

Meredith L. Hamilton
http://www.expertcommunications.com

---

Calling All Carbon-Based Lifeforms

Many businesses want to market to all carbon-based life forms.... Read More

Avoid These 5 Web Site Blunders!

The Web is intended to help people find information quickly... Read More

Beyond Repair: The Fixed-price Model

Don't get me wrong. I certainly don't think the majority... Read More

How To Start With Absolutely Nothing And Create Wealth online in 30 days or less.

Without a doubt, if you asked me, Shane if there... Read More

Marketing Yourself and Your Business to Thriving!

We all watch the commercials on TV. We hear them... Read More

Linking Features & Benefits

I'm sure that you've had those Eureka! moments, too. When... Read More

3 Simple Selling Tactics

The following 3 simple selling tactics produce sales by responding... Read More

Ten Crucial Questions

Ten Crucial Questions for Your Business Future I'm... Read More

Learn How to Market Your eBusiness in Real Time: Dissect, Study, Emulate

Everything you will ever need to know about internet marketing... Read More

Four Simple Ways to Cut Your Trade Show Marketing Budget in Half

Many times when a trade show is planned for there... Read More

Has the Free Report Had Its Day?

For years now we have been inundated with offers of... Read More

What Does It REALLY Take to Be Making 6-Figures as a Service Professional?

Over the past 30 years, I've read so much on... Read More

Bedroom Marketing

Hopefully we are all adults here, so let's talk about... Read More

If You Can?t Answer This Question Your Business is Doomed!

How do you answer the seemingly easy question, "What do... Read More

Self Promotion Brings Business Success

Your business success depends on your ability to promote your... Read More

Mission Statement Impossible

Dant dant da da dant dant da da. Dant dant... Read More

How to Put Law & Order into Marketing Your Legal Practice

First in a series of three articlesRegardless of your law... Read More

Value Proposition is the Key to Success

Value proposition is treated as the standards or service that... Read More

Tradeshow Booth Cures - Knick-Knack Knockouts

Okay, we were kidding about the smoke, but not about... Read More

2 Little Words That Work Marketing Magic

In his classic best-seller, "How To Win Friends And Influence... Read More

Open Doors by Building Relationships

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming... Read More

6 MUST Have Strategies To Make Big Bucks with Big Ticket Items

Strategy #1: Change Your Mindset That's right, change your mindset!... Read More

Marketing Plans... A Simple Approach To Get Off The Marketing Roller Coaster

Are You Riding The Marketing Roller Coaster?If you're like many... Read More

Earning the Right To Sell With Stats ? 10 Steps to Greatness

We could learn a thing or two from pro sports.Baseball... Read More

Make Your E-Mail Signature File WORK for You!

You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files -... Read More

How To Use Humor Successfully In Your Business Communications

For generations people have been saying that laughter is good... Read More

Making Your Mark With The Millennials

Generation Y--The second-largest crop of young people in America's history,... Read More

Secret of Strategy - Part 2

How to Create Strategies That Work In Today's Markets. Of... Read More

Small Business Bonzai Marketing

Do you own a small business? Do you wish to... Read More

Increase Repeat Business and Referrals with Direct Mail

So you have been writing mortgages like crazy now for... Read More

Keep Costs Down and Keep the Marketing Strategy Simple

One of the biggest mistakes we could make as business... Read More

Perceived Value Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Q: My partner and I are having a hard time... Read More

6 Simple Ways to Determine Which Marketing Ideas Are Best for Your Business

Did something catch your eye in a direct mailing this... Read More