Comments on: Common Pitfalls That Are Killing Your Business (Despite Your Best Efforts) http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/ Sydni Craig-Hart, the Smart Simple Marketing coach, shares her proven strategies, teaching solo service professionals, entrepreneurs and small business owners to how to create more money in their business, attract more clients and automate their marketing systems. Following Sydni's simple, easy-to-implement techniques will help you to significantly boost your income and grow your business at lightening speed! Thu, 17 May 2012 21:01:56 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ayo Fashola http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4436 Ayo Fashola Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:31:14 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4436 The most common pitfall of marketing is LOOKING BORING. I go to networking events and people have no panache or flair. If you LOOK BORING anywhere....I'm not EVEN INTERESTED in talking to you, let alone will I visit your website. I need you to look like you know something I don't. Have a personal style and express it...confidently Style/Wardrobe Consultant Ayo The most common pitfall of marketing is LOOKING BORING. I go to networking events and people have no panache or flair. If you LOOK BORING anywhere….I’m not EVEN INTERESTED in talking to you, let alone will I visit your website. I need you to look like you know something I don’t.

Have a personal style and express it…confidently

Style/Wardrobe Consultant
Ayo
Ayo Fashola recently posted: How To Wear Pink

]]> By: Andrea Costantine http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4373 Andrea Costantine Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:19:50 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4373 Great post. I find that I often fall into the trap of not doing enough "real" marketing - by getting sidetracked by other to-do's and demands and giving up too soon. "Yep, that didn't work." Both are definitely fatal errors for entrepreneurs and small business owners. I think purposeful action is one way to overcome these challenges and to continue assessing all that I'm doing by asking, "is this taking me closer to my goals?" Thanks for a great post! Great post. I find that I often fall into the trap of not doing enough “real” marketing – by getting sidetracked by other to-do’s and demands and giving up too soon. “Yep, that didn’t work.” Both are definitely fatal errors for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

I think purposeful action is one way to overcome these challenges and to continue assessing all that I’m doing by asking, “is this taking me closer to my goals?”

Thanks for a great post!
Andrea Costantine recently posted: Finding Calm in the Chaos

]]> By: Kristi LeGue http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4362 Kristi LeGue Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:27:07 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4362 When I had my CPA practice, I used to shutter at the thought of having to "sell" someone on the fact that they needed my services. However, your comment about marketing is simply a matter of sharing solutions to people that are already looking for them was a turning point for me. Someone I knew at the time enlightened me to that and it completely shifted my thinking. When I thought of it like that, I enjoyed networking and marketing my business. Whenever I think of sales, I think of those sleazy used car salesmen that we all don't like. But, when it was put to me that way, I could completely relate. Just like Gina said, we are doing people a dis-service if we do not share with them what we do. Thank you so much for the reminders! When I had my CPA practice, I used to shutter at the thought of having to “sell” someone on the fact that they needed my services. However, your comment about marketing is simply a matter of sharing solutions to people that are already looking for them was a turning point for me. Someone I knew at the time enlightened me to that and it completely shifted my thinking. When I thought of it like that, I enjoyed networking and marketing my business.

Whenever I think of sales, I think of those sleazy used car salesmen that we all don’t like. But, when it was put to me that way, I could completely relate. Just like Gina said, we are doing people a dis-service if we do not share with them what we do.

Thank you so much for the reminders!
Kristi LeGue recently posted: Losing Ourselves

]]> By: Jennifer Bourn http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4149 Jennifer Bourn Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:02:25 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4149 Oooh not choosing a target market or ideal client is the worst offense. When you try to speak to everyone, no one will identify with your message and say - "THAT'S FOR ME!" Thanks for the great reminders ... I find myself doing some of these at times. Oooh not choosing a target market or ideal client is the worst offense. When you try to speak to everyone, no one will identify with your message and say – “THAT’S FOR ME!”

Thanks for the great reminders … I find myself doing some of these at times.
Jennifer Bourn recently posted: Keep Visitors On Your WordPress Site Longer With YARPP

]]> By: Gina Bell http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4144 Gina Bell Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:11:56 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4144 Golden Nugget Alert right here >> "marketing is simply a matter of sharing solutions with people who are already looking for them." YES! And what I try to remind myself of daily is if I don't communicate this to my community I am doing them a dis-service. Discovering what your clients really want and need from you and giving it to them is a beautiful thing. Thanks for the reminder Sydni and a spotlight on all of the ways we sabotage ourselves in this area. xo Golden Nugget Alert right here >> “marketing is simply a matter of sharing solutions with people who are already looking for them.” YES! And what I try to remind myself of daily is if I don’t communicate this to my community I am doing them a dis-service. Discovering what your clients really want and need from you and giving it to them is a beautiful thing. Thanks for the reminder Sydni and a spotlight on all of the ways we sabotage ourselves in this area. xo
Gina Bell recently posted: What’s Your Best Online Visibility Tip?

]]> By: Sydni Craig-Hart http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4142 Sydni Craig-Hart Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:18:26 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4142 Thanks for sharing your follow up experience Amy! It's amazing what kind of results you can enjoy when you put forth the effort. Congrats to you on those two extra sales! And I appreciate your bike riding analogy. That should help those who prefer a leisurely ride over a run! :) Thanks for sharing your follow up experience Amy! It’s amazing what kind of results you can enjoy when you put forth the effort. Congrats to you on those two extra sales! And I appreciate your bike riding analogy. That should help those who prefer a leisurely
ride over a run! :)

]]> By: Sydni Craig-Hart http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4140 Sydni Craig-Hart Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:15:01 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4140 Thanks for your note Brenda! I really want to help my audience to appreciate that marketing can be fun and you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. In fact the more each of us focus on our unique talents and abilities, the easier it will be to connect with the people we were meant to serve, which can only create a win-win for everyone involved. :) Thanks for your note Brenda! I really want to help my audience to appreciate that marketing can be fun and you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. In fact the more each of us focus on our unique talents and abilities, the easier it will be to connect with the people we were meant to serve, which can only create a win-win for everyone involved. :)

]]> By: Brenda Stanton http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4127 Brenda Stanton Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:18:37 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4127 Great tips Syndi - as always. It's so true, what we resist persists...so if we "hate" marketing we'll continue to resist it and the painful aspect to it will be there. But, with your suggestions, if we embrace it and find ways to not only like it, but love it, then we're FREE! I love your articles, thank you! xo Great tips Syndi – as always. It’s so true, what we resist persists…so if we “hate” marketing we’ll continue to resist it and the painful aspect to it will be there. But, with your suggestions, if we embrace it and find ways to not only like it, but love it, then we’re FREE!

I love your articles, thank you! xo

]]> By: Amy Kinnaird http://smartsimplemarketing.com/common-pitfalls-that-are-killing-your-business-despite-your-best-efforts/comment-page-1/#comment-4099 Amy Kinnaird Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:24:09 +0000 http://smartsimplemarketing.com/?p=3075#comment-4099 Gosh, follow up is so important. Two weeks ago I had an opportunity to follow up with about 25 people from a presentation I had done. I had sold some sessions right away, but then when I emailed everyone about the discount deadline nearing, I had 2 more sessions booked. That was 2 clients and a nice bit of change that I wouldn't have had without the follow up. I'd like to think of marketing not as a marathon, but as a nice, easy trail run, or bike ride through the woods. Sounds much easier than a marathon to me! ha! Gosh, follow up is so important. Two weeks ago I had an opportunity to follow up with about 25 people from a presentation I had done. I had sold some sessions right away, but then when I emailed everyone about the discount deadline nearing, I had 2 more sessions booked. That was 2 clients and a nice bit of change that I wouldn’t have had without the follow up.

I’d like to think of marketing not as a marathon, but as a nice, easy trail run, or bike ride through the woods. Sounds much easier than a marathon to me! ha!
Amy Kinnaird recently posted: Clean and Grow Rich

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