The Water Trough- We can't make you drink, but we will make you think!
The Water Trough- We can't make you drink, but we will make you think!
Effective Marketing: Posing Questions and Navigating Feedback
Dive into the essentials of marketing with the latest episode of "The Water Trough"! We're discussing the power of asking the right questions and managing feedback to fuel growth. Tune in today!
#smallbusiness #marketingtips #business growth #managefeedback
Welcome to The Water Trough, where we can't make you drink, but we will make you think. My name is Ed Drawster, the Small Business Doctor, and I'm really excited you chose to join me here as we discuss topics that are important for small business folks just like you. If you're looking for ideas, inspiration, and possibility, you've come to the right place. Join us as we take steps to help you create the healthy business that you've always wanted.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone):Welcome back to the water trough. This is ed draws to the small business doctor.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-1:Today's episode is inspired by friend of mine who put a request out on social media.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-5:He wanted to know. If his marketing tactics are too strong. That was his question. Are my marketing tactics too strong.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-3:It got me to thinking about marketing. And about our need. To ask questions or probably more importantly. To get answers for our questions. I believe both of these are very important to us in business.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-4:Let me start by looking at the marketing element. Marketing of course is the way that we get our message out there to people it's necessary for us to let people know that we exist. What we have to offer, who we are. These things are fundamental in the business world without them. We do not. Accomplish sales. And one of our driving force is to sell that, which we're offering to the world.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-6:So then we might say that the question posed is, is my marketing effective? Is it going to attract potential clientele? Needless to say any sort of message that we put out there will attract the right sort of people, but let's go back to the basics about marketing. And. How and why we're doing this in the first place. Marketing is designed. To tell people that we exist. Marketing is designed to ensure people understand what we have to offer. But before we tell our story, before we put our message out there. We have to first understand who our audience is. Imagine you're in a crowded room, a hundred people. And you present an idea.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-7:Do you really expect 100 people to totally agree with you to buy in and to be on board with you? Of course not. Maybe 50% will maybe 20% who knows. But the expectation that every last one of those people will be on board with you. Well, you know, better than that. Okay. That's a random audience. You're going to attract those. We have an interest in what you have to offer. And that's one of the fundamentals of marketing that we have to first identify the audience that we're trying to reach.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-6:Rather than painting with a broad brush, as I've talked about before. We want to ensure that the message that we're putting out there. Is designed.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-8:For the kind of people they're looking to work with.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-9:The more we know about our target audience, the better equipped we are to create. The best possible message. We're able to identify the location where they're most likely. To get their information. This is critical. Marketing is designed to convey a message. But the message has to be designed for the people that were trying to find. The message has to be. Delivered to a place where those people are likely to hang out. It's not a one size fits all sort of thing. So in that room of a hundred people, Where you present an idea.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-10:And ideally like to get a hundred percent buy-in.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-9:What you'd be better off doing is being in a room. With people who meet. The criteria. That suit your needs. People that are more inclined to be interested in what you have to offer. There was something to be said for the shotgun form of marketing where you. Covered a lot of ground. Simultaneously. And the more you put out there, the more likely you are to stumble upon somebody who's going to have an interest. And of course, this is true. There is if you will safety in numbers. But you also have the potential to deliver your message to the right people. You also have the potential to create the right message for the right people and to deliver that message. In a place where they are likely to be. At the same time you're doing this, what you are saying to those who are not interested. That's okay. Marketing messages are not meant for everyone. Even a targeted audience is going to have people that simply aren't on board with you. And that's fine. You're going to reach those people that you are going to reach. But if you are more in tune to your audience, If you're more aware of who they are and what they're looking for. And those things are aligned with what you want to do and what you have to offer. The probability of of effective marketing will increase considerably.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-11:Let's take a look at the second element here, asking questions or more importantly, seeking answers to questions. What is our motivation behind this? When we pose questions? Well, naturally. We want to get feedback. And feedback comes in a variety of forms. There are a couple. Forms that come to mind for me. There is the positive feedback. Yes, I support you. Your idea is great. I think your marketing strategy is fantastic. That is one. Ideally, that's something that we're looking for. The second one. Is a blatant, no, I don't like your marketing strategy. I don't like what you're saying. It does not appeal to me. And you really shouldn't do that. Now in these first two things here. Remember. The person who is answering the question. Is giving you their impression. Of what they see. They're giving you their response to your question. If they're being completely honest and forthright. They're positive or negative response is a valid thing. When we pose questions. Are we eager to find the truth? Or are we hoping for affirmation? Most of us. Probably have a mixed bag when it comes to things like that. Sure. We'd like to hear the people support us. But we acknowledged that we need to get. Feedback constructive feedback that is not nasty. Unnecessary feedback, but constructive feedback on which we can improve. And or build upon our ideas. But it's not always so black and white as that. Respondent's depending upon who they are. For example, our friends, our family, our colleagues. Maybe disinclined. To give you that negative or constructive feedback for fear. That they're going to. Then the great. The relationship that they have with you. So. Answers to your questions. May not be as valuable as you'd like them to be. Not suggesting. The questions aren't posed. What I'm suggesting is. That when we ask questions. That we consider what our intention is behind doing. So. When you ask a client. If things are going well for them. When you ask a consumer, if the product that they bought from you. Is working out. I E. And they're everywhere today. The surveys, the, Recommendations all the things that were asked in support of, and I use the word support in quotes. These things are abundant, but what is our intention with those things? Are we prepared to hear the truth? And if the truth is. And we can't know this when they're good things. We're inclined to be, blinded to the reality behind it. But when negativity or constructive criticism are provided. Are we prepared to act upon those things? It's not simply enough to say, Hey, how am I doing? Without accepting. Potential response. Without accepting. Perhaps the need for us to make changes, to make things better. Or different. I remember once again. When we pose a question. To a broad audience. Who has no skin in the game who has no interest in what it is that we're doing? We're not necessarily. Seeking the right information. So. My thoughts are these. Whether it comes to marketing and the preparation that we put into it. Or the business of posing questions about how I'm doing. It really takes a lot of forethought. What are we looking for? And what are we in the case of requesting feedback? What are we willing to do? It's not enough to simply say thanks a lot. How many of you been on Google or any of a number of places? Where a negative comment is made. How many times have you seen. That the respondent has never been. Responded to. I don't know about you, but what that tells me is. Those people merely want to hear the good stuff. When someone responds and says, I understand what you're saying. And we're looking into it.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-12:And say, please come back and check us out again because we're working on that. I have a totally different. Perspective on who that business person is. And what kind of integrity that they have.
Microphone (Yeti Stereo Microphone)-11:That's it for today. This is ed draws down here at the water trough. I want to wish you a healthy business. And by the way, if you're interested. In being a guest on my show. I look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out. At ed at the small biz, the se. Z doctor.com. And let's chat about. I'm always looking for people who have inspiring stories to tell. And ideas to share. Again, ed drowsy at the water trough, wishing you a healthy business.
I'm going to be doing a lot of work on this.