Are we there yet?

One morning I went to a nearby coffee shop to meet a friend from my network.  This is a something we do every so often just to touch base.  However, this time it was different.  Within 5 minutes of greeting each other, he told me that he needed help.  “Ernie, I am spinning my wheels doing all sorts of sales and marketing activities.  I’m out of control wasting time and I need direction,” he explained.

I’m sure many of you find yourselves feeling the same frustrations.  Are you following a MAP, a Marketing Action Plan?  I’m not talking about a 30 page document that you put together and is now collecting dust on a shelf.  I’m speaking of a simple plan that provides daily, weekly, and monthly direction.  To get started, here are a few questions you need to address.  Your answers will help you design your MAP.

  1. What are you selling?
  2. Who will buy it?
  3. Why do they want it?
  4. How will you communicate your offering?

Let’s start with the basics and unpack each component as we move along.

By Ernie Dimalanta