There are two words that small business owners typically don’t put in the same sentence.  Marketing and Fun.

It’s true. Marketing can be challenging, labour-some, and not the least rewarding.   It’s not unlike any other activity you take up.  It requires a little bit of effort, the right know-how, and lots of practice.   Of course having someone to guide you and fall back on for support, like a  coach or mentor, helps big time.

The biggest take-away from all the clients I’ve worked with across Canada, the US, and Europe, has been that whatever it is you’re doing for your business, has to be fun.

What makes Marketing fun?

Here are some great ways to make marketing a fun routine for you.

  • Keep World Records -  Hockey and the Olympics wouldn’t be much fun if we didn’t keep score.   The obvious statistics or Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is Sales.   Just like in sports, you must concentrate of supporting stats.  i.e Shots on Goal or Leads, # of phone calls, appointments etc.
  • Marketing Calendar – Put together a marketing calendar for the entire year and keep track of your marketing initiatives.  Nothing motivates staff more than activity.  It should motivate you too.  The more activity you have, the more results you should see.  If you don’t, well you need to talk to me!
  • Sales Board – Lets keep score of your world records and statistics leading up to your new Sales Records.  You need a 4 month planner that just like the Marketing Calendar is visible to you.   Keep track of # of leads, appointments, and sales at a minimum and determine what other stats would be fun to track.
  • Attend Marketing Events - Seminars, Webinars, and Workshops are fun.   See www.MarketingWorkshops.ca for a list of my upcoming events.  Just realize there comes a time you need to put it into action and guys like me can help get you there quicker.
  • Rewards - For you and your staff.  Set milestones and targets for your new KPIs above and set corresponding rewards.  For example, all-time appointments in one week could equal a luncheon brought in for your staff.   Sales records hit for this month = a gift certificate for all your team members, and so on.
  • Prizes and Competition - Step up the rewards game and create prizes for the person that has the most amount of leads, appointments, and sales, etc.
  • Referral Program - Introduce a family and friends discount for your staff.  Kick it up a notch and offer a commission to your staff for bringing in new business.   Post the results in the lunch room and watch the staff get excited about who is going to win that trip to Hawaii for the all-time best sales quarter. The best part is you get to write it off and you qualify as well!
  • Set Marketing Goals - Make them bite size junks.  Don’t be a hero and try to do it all at once.   Set realistic and simple goals.   For example, make it a goal to set aside just one hour for Marketing per week.  Before you know it, you’ll be spending two or three hours per week.   Don’t get tempted to block off an entire day or half day for marketing.   Often you’ll find yourself dreading that day and then the real world sets in and you spend 7 hours dealing with day to day stuff and clients and you feel your marketing time got you no-where.   Less is more.   Set aside smaller time frames and you’ll get more accomplished.
  • Consider taking on a mentor or coach -Simply put, experience is key.   I took up golf one year and I learned more in 30 minutes with a golf instructor than hours wacking balls into the rough.   In hindsight I spent more money trying to figure it out on my own.  It’s fun getting an expert help out and brainstorm with.
  • Results - Keeping track of results and conversions will make you realize where to concentrate your efforts and what really works.  I’ve developed entire systems around tracking conversions that did more than just keep stats.  Tracking conversions is highly motivational and gives you the insight you need to increase leads, convert more sales, and get more results.  Smarter, better, faster.
  • Promotion - Christmas is around the corner, what is your marketing promotion?  What will make your phone ring and what are you going to sell like hot cakes?   Promotions are fun to put together and highly motivating.  I helped a fellow marketer put together their promotion and I can tell you they were over the moon happy and excited about their promotion.

What if Marketing still isn’t fun?

You’ve either not implemented all of the above or there are key elements missing.   Marketing isn’t easy and you don’t have to do it all on your own.   Get smart, get savvy, get results… Get yourself a coach that will bring you to the next level.  Just call me at 604.435.4459 and I’ll show you how to put your marketing efforts on steroids and make them fun.

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