by Robert
Moment
http://www.howtostartyoursmallbusiness.com
©
2007
Unless you're using every advantage of Personal Marketing
, you're not achieving all of the potential success that is sitting there waiting
for you to grab. Personal Marketing means that you're providing the right impression
of your small business, right down to the smallest detail. If you want to be more
successful in all your various endeavors- and especially in the case of a small
business- you need to know the six "P's" of personal marketing. These
are a set of concepts developed by business and entrepreneurship experts that
give you the key to unlocking your potential.
PERSONA
Who
are you? What is your small business all about? What kind of customer service
do you provide? What are your business values? What are you proud of ? What makes
you different from the competition ? These are questions potential customers and
clients must answer for themselves in a short period of time. How they answer
them depends not just on what you say or what kind of persona you have managed
to convey to them. Your policies, atmosphere, customer service, integrity, and
overall quality are all factors that you can usually control. Your business "personality"
has to shine through , so don't waste time wondering if they'll like you. Simply
be yourself and they will.
POSITIONING
Everyone
knows you have to be at the right place at the right time and know the right people-right?
While this is true to some extent, more important to realize is that you can put
your business in the right place when the time is right and get to know all the
right people. Positioning is how you do it- and this simply means you want to
make sure you're always in the best position possible.
PACKAGING
Just
like you make decisions about the products you buy based on their packaging, so
do prospective customers and clients. They make a decision about your business
as a whole by the atmosphere you put forward, the quality the packaging of your
specific products implies, and the additional support, guarantees , and other
peripheries that you offer. When it comes to personal marketing, packaging is
a behind-the-scenes kind of preparation that's only really obvious if you don't
do it, or if you don't do it right. If you've ever wondered how someone gets to
be "the whole package" it's because they put the time and forethought
into all the little things that many others overlook. Just a little attention
to your own packaging can help you market yourself much more effectively.
PRESENTATION
Just
as important as making sure you're "the whole package" is paying close
attention to every aspect of your presentation. Again, this is a lot of little
things that can add up to a big impression-and you always want to make a good
one. It's an unfortunate reality in today's world that appearances do matter,
and they play a large role in how prospective and current customers see you. Those
who market themselves effectively know that how you present yourself is of the
utmost importance, and it goes beyond just having a fancy exterior. Providing
quality service, standing behind your products and services, presenting effective
follow-up, and maintaining an overall professional and polite impression are all
crucial elements of your presentation.
PROMOTION
Perhaps
the most important element of personal marketing is promotion- shameless self-promotion.
You know your business, including its strengths, what makes it stand above the
rest, what makes it a good "deal" and what qualities you possess: it's
absolutely crucial you convey this to potential customers.
PASSION
Last
but certainly not least in the concepts that make up personal marketing is passion-for
what you're doing, for who you are, and where you're going. Customers are looking
to know you-so don't waste time trying to be something you're not. Instead, let
your passion- your enthusiasm and energy for the job you're doing and the things
you love-shine through and you're sure to meet with the kind of success you've
always dreamed of.
Remember, the key to effective personal
marketing is confidence. Don't be afraid to let others know what makes you great,
and why you're the best choice there is.
