Today we’re going to start addressing some of the characterists that set superior, effective marketrs apart from subpar or average marketers. One of the first and most important traits of an effective marketer is the ability to stay in the loop.

What do I mean?

You need to always be up to date on the current trends, not only in the world of marketing but in the worlds of those you wish to serve. An effective marketer knows how important it is to monitor the market, gather and sort through information, and have a great market research team on his side.

Knowing what is happening in the market will help you in a wide variety of ways. The research information you gather will help you to identify your target market and build a very strong brand.

The more you pay attention to what is happening in the world around you, the better your odds of moving forward in a successful manner. A great example of this type of research being used effectively is the Chick-fil-A fast food store, an establishment with more than 1,000 units in the United States alone. The company completed extensive market research, found out what customers liked and didn’t liked, and worked towards improvement. They’re one of the few companies experiencing strong growth, even in today’s economy!

Are you really in the loop or do you just scratch the surface to stay in touch? Think about it.

Sean

Sean McPheat

Marketing Consultant – Motivational Speaker – Sales Expert

I know you probably have a wealth of information at your fingertips every day. You have marketing magazines, bookmarked websites, and maybe even a few textbooks and handouts from old marketing courses. You’re armed and ready to go – ready to market your product and make a bunch of sales.

And I have some news for you.

Having an arsenal of information means absolutely nothing if you can’t use it effectively. Having marketing information and marketing knowledge doesn’t make you effective.

So what do you really need to have in order to be an effective marketer? I’ve found, over time, that good, effective marketers have a number of distinct traits. They include:

1. The ability to keep up with current trends in the market;
2. The ability to stay focused on their customers;
3. The ability to stand out from the crowd;
4. Excellent communication skills;
5. Focus, drive, and determination;
6. A plethora of growth potential; and
7. The ability to build strong relationships

If you’re missing any one of these characteristics you’ll have trouble evolving into the hard-core marketer you wish yourself to be. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll take a look at each of these traits and what they really mean to your success. Are you ready to get to know yourself on a completely new level?

Sean

Sean McPheat

Marketing Consultant – Motivational Speaker – Sales Expert

What do you do when the weather is bad in the area around your office?

Do get distracted? Stare out the windows? Generally go on auto-pilot until 5pm comes and you can go home?

What about during the winter months when snow storms cripple parts of the country (or parts of other countries where you may have business)? Do you write off your clients until the weather gets better or do you take advantage of the opportunity Mother Nature is giving you to reach out?

Inclement weather should become not a deterrent but an encouragement. Pick up the phone, call your clients, and ask them how they’re doing. Find out if they need anything from you (and don’t try to push a new sale, either). They may need one of your services or they may be sitting in the office catching up on paperwork, taking advantage of the quiet that usually comes with a storm.

They may actually have time for you.

They’ll not only have time for you but they’ll appreciate the fact that you were thinking of them. You’re building relationships, one step at a time. The stronger your relationship the better your odds of keeping that client when contract renewal time rolls around!

Is it snowing where you are? You’d better pick up the phones!

Sean

Sean McPheat

Marketing Consultant – Motivational Speaker – Sales Expert

Just last week, Google launched their newest tool – Google Buzz.

Now you may be wondering why we need another social media tool to latch on to. And yes, that’s exactly what it is – a social media/networking tool. We’ve got Twitter, we’ve got Facebook, and now we’ve got Google Buzz. So what of it?

I find Google Buzz advantageous for one reason over all others -

I’m already logged into Google Gmail every day.

I use it. I’m there. Google Buzz comes to me.

I don’t have to search the entire Internet to find friends and contacts. Google Buzz finds them for me based on what’s in my address book.

I don’t have to learn a new software platform. I don’t have to read every Buzz that comes through, and I don’t have to move from website to website in order to communicate when I do want to talk. I can stay within my web browser and simply move from one application (within Gmail) to the next.

Cool.

Google Buzz isn’t without it’s problems. I can’t customize a profile with my business information. I can’t make my Buzz account completely private (so I will still get requests and followers I don’t even know – like on all the other networks). I can’t use Buzz if I’m not in Gmail.

These are all bugs, though. Bugs I’m sure Google will eventually work out.

So I’d really like to know what you think about Google Buzz. Are you using it yet? Have you found it advantageous, disappointing, or annoying? Let me know what you think. I’d love to know what you plan on doing with it!

Sean

Sean McPheat

Marketing Consultant – Motivational Speaker – Sales Expert