Creating & Maintaining a Successful Marketing Strategy Takes Time & Effort
“I don’t have the time or resources for marketing.” “Is social media just a lot of hype?” “I need to get the word out, but I don’t know how to do it.” These are some of the thoughts that keep business owners, practice managers and marketers up at night. You can have successful marketing strategies for your business or medical practice that would cost that you would pay a part-tgime employee.
The biggest mistake made by business owners is not investing in marketing as a priority point for their business growth. Many business owners do not see advertising or marketing investments as “hard” or fixed expenses and end up losing out in the long run. They often choose to market their business in a piecemeal manner – “Let’s try this to see if it works” only to learn that it never leads to the expectations promised by the media salesperson.
Successful advertising and marketing require more than talent – they require smart strategy, time and effort. Whether it is an investment in traditional advertising platforms such as print media or television, or a new endeavor in social media or blogging, every marketing venue takes time and effort. Ultimately, successful marketing begins with a change in the mindset of the business owner. Once the owner accepts changes to their respective marketing strategies, they will begin to see the benefits of their newly-developed and wise investments. However, until the business owner is willing to accept new tactics, marketing will remain a tedious and even fruitless drag. Unfortunately, improper marketing efforts may reap little to no benefits. For such reasons, a dedicated approach to the marketing campaign is a required and worthy investment, as it will provide positive and lasting effects on the business. You would never think of running a business without electricity, signage or even a computer. Why would you ever operate one without the most important sales generator – a comprehensive marketing strategy?
Business owners always make time for things that prove successful. It is natural to focus on programs that show a return on investment. However, the ROI in marketing or advertising is not instantaneous. Like all great things, it takes time. In many instances, the initial efforts of any marketing campaign can seem unrewarding: if a business just started a blog, it can be like speaking to the wall. When starting a social media promotion, it may often feel like attending a cocktail party of one; and when airing a television advertising campaign for the first few months, the only one watching may be the house pet. However, all business owners should realize that building an audience or a following requires time. Consistent focus in the same medium will prove worthy of the effort.
We all know that best things are worth waiting for. Whether it is working out to look and feel better, or pushing a car to move it forward, time and effort are the key components to success. Have no fear – success is an ongoing process.
The voice of your business will be heard. People will begin to notice. It just takes a bit of patience and work to get the ball rolling into the right direction.