I was talking with my wife, and business partner, Paula the other day. I was upset because I’d heard that several business owners, that we know personally, are having a really hard time with their businesses. The Christmas and end-of-year selling period are over and they are being confronted with another slow-down in their respective businesses.

As we were talking it became clear that none of them were actually working from a marketing plan. They were just “spitballing it”. Thrashing around in hopes of bumping into some idea or situation which would cause their sales to pick up.

One of them was waiting for his sales people to start generating new business. Another was thinking of lowering prices, as if losing more profit was going to help stimulate sales. A third was just going to try praying harder.

All of these business owners are suffering from a distinct lack of an action plan for marketing their products and services. Here are seven danger signals that you should be aware of.

Seven danger signals that you are NOT marketing

Take a look at these seven concepts and map them on your own business. Every one of them is capable of driving your business into the dirt. Three or more of them in combination says that serious problems are already taking their toll.

1. Sales are being driven by price
2. You are not really differentiating you offer from your competitors
3. You use a steady stream of disconnected sales gimmicks
4. There is no unified plan for communicating your message to customers and the trade
5. You are expecting that most sales leads will come from the sales staff
6. Longtime customers say, “I didn’t know you did that”
7. There is no customer or prospect database that can be used for marketing Consumers will and are spending but, they’re being more cautious. They are looking closer at the value of your offer and comparing it before they make a purchase. This means you need to look for new and more aggressive ways to show clients and prospects you want their business. You must market before you will sell. Without a marketing plan that will lay the ground work for your selling efforts you’ll find little traction when it comes to making the sale.

Looking for more information about how to create a breakthrough in sales? Give us a call or sent an email – 704-542-9104 / steve@somallc.com