Reasons to work from a marketing plan:

1. Track your goals and objectives-Many small businesses just do advertising when a local rep walks through the door or when they think about it…Never. By having a plan to review and work from, it gives you or your marketing team vision, check points and a light at the end of the tunnel.

2. Create a budget and spend it-Sit down and look into your crystal ball(Facebook)…Now stop stalking your X and focus on 2010. We need to be realistic. If you don’t spend any money on marketing and advertising how do you expect to create leads, donations or sales?

3. Start the conversation-If Noah had tried to build his Arc in a few days, his ship would have sunk. Sitting down with the decision makers can be a stressful and even aggravating experience, but you have to do it. Start explaining social media, the importance of marketing and how the people who increase their marketing/advertising budgets are the ones who will survive the coming flood.

4. Your competition is cutting marketing. If your competition cuts their marketing then it opens the door for you to their clients. If they are not willing to fight for each new lead, then it makes it that much easier to sway new clients to your company. Don’t give in to the dark side and use the force(marketing) already!

“Why should I care what my friend had for dinner?”

“I like to keep my life private.”

“I don’t get it.”

These are not so common statements that I still hear now and then about social media and Facebook. Normally from people who are in the aging demographic, but even today that demographic is the fastest growing on Facebook.

Ok, is this whole movement to the net just a fad? I have to say no. Years ago our society went through a major change, maybe you heard of it. The industrial revolution. Today we are witness to the internet revoltion. Since we now have a networked world, many people interact with others that we never could have before.  We can talk with and be-friend people in Europe, Africa,  Australia or even your neighbor that all have the same interests, problems, or thoughts. Now how do we find these people. Social media. With Twitter you can search for different words or phrases that others are talking about to see what the world is saying instead of just your local paper. In Facebook, you join groups and gain access to others who enjoy marketing, skateboarding or even other people’s girlfriends.

Now I know some of these ideas seem to be outrageous or even unimportant. How did you feel the first time someone explained email instead of sending a letter. How do you think people felt about the invention of the automobile? Today if you don’t have an email you are in the super minority and probably live in a bomb shelter in the mountains surrounded by land minds and  barb wire. If you don’t understand social media ask. Try. Play. And please come out of that dark, mildew filled space you’ve been living. It’s beautiful outside and you have many friends and family waiting for you at the click of your mouse.