Are You Market Ready?

I have a standard answer to the question, “How are you?’

“Sweet, lovable kind, thrifty, brave, clean and all that other boy scout stuff… would you like to buy a bridge?”

Jerry Fletcher

It is a bit silly but I’ve been doing it so long that friends get concerned when I don’t respond that way.

But there is a kernel in the silliness that all of us need to consider.

It is the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.

That is not a bad piece of advice.

Are you ready? Are you prepared to market yourself and your business?

If you are you should be able to check off these items. If you can’t, call me.

__ I know the vision of my company.

My vision is: ____________________________________________________________________________

__ I can state the mission of my company

Our mission is __________________________________________________________________________

__ I can sum up how my company is unique in 7 words or less

Those words are: ________  ________  ________  ________  ________  ________  __________

­­­__ My initial answer to the question, “What do you do?” is 7 words or less

My “Hook” is: ___________________________________________________________________________

__ I can sort out if my products/services can help you in 30 seconds or less.

You know how (Your “Hold” )____________________________________________________________

What I do is: (Your Pitch”) _______________________________________________________________

__ I use a contact management system to help me turn contacts into contracts.

I use: __________________________________________________________________________________

__ Most of my business comes from referrals

My best referral source is: ______________________________________________________________

__ I regularly get business from my social media connections

Most come from: ______________________________________________________________________

__ I do business with people that know, like and trust me

Most connect via:______________________________________________________________________

__ I know that sooner or later I must connect with people in person to really power up the relationship.

I do that by:____________________________________________________________________________

How did you do? How many did you check off and answer?

If you run a business you need to be ready with the answers to these questions. They have been distilled from over 25 years of consulting. They are the heart of your marketing. All but one of them can be done without spending a cent…if you know how.

Knowing how is the combination of experience and analysis it takes to be a marketing guide. I’ve been that guide and developed brands for, at last count, 139 independent professionals. I stopped counting successful product and service introductions at 207.

I’m an old-school marketing consultant. I figure it is part of my job to understand all the elements of how a client gets to profit and stays there. Yes, there are other questions, but these, answered well, will let you open the doors.

His consulting practice, founded in 1990, is known for Trust-based Brand development, Positioning and business development for independent professionals on and off-line.

Consulting: www.JerryFletcher.com
Speaking: www.NetworkingNinja.com
DIY Training: www.ingomu.com