Marketing Resources

Sometimes I forget that understanding marketing and sales is not something that comes naturally to everyone. It actually didn't come naturally to me either, but I have been studying it for so long that it does seem to be easier for me now than in the beginning.  

It is like anything else in business, you need to put time and effort into the subject to become good at it. Just because we are business owners doesn't make us good at accounting, administration, leadership, sales, marketing, customer service, or anything else that comes along with being successful in business.  

Early in my business, when I realized I didn't know something, the first thing I thought of was to take a course, read a book, or find someone who specialized in it and learned how to be better, not to an expert level, but enough that I could get it done for my business. 

If you want to get business, you really need to find a good avenue to learn what type of marketing will work for you. You really need to find the right fit, because not everyone will use the same type of marketing. Some people enjoy networking, some social media, some may prefer advertising.  There is no right or wrong type, it is just what works best for you. 

So how do you figure it out?  Once is realized it may take some trial and error.  Throughout my time in business, it is one of the subjects I enjoy studying most.  I actually think it is fun to try a particular marketing campaign and then gather the statistics of what worked, what I could have done better, and make a few adjustments and try it again and see if I get better results and do it all over again. 

There are many resources you can use to find what will work best for you.

Here are a few commonly used resources worth considering:

• Blogs: blogs are a great way to get an introduction to a topic and get a wide variety of perspectives.
• Ebooks: with Ebooks, you can learn about a specific topic in a condensed yet more comprehensive piece of work than a blog. 
• Online courses: often typically interactive, they are great if you like structured educational content that includes various types of media like video, audio, or text.
• Infographics: are perfect for visual learners, infographics often break a complex concept down into simpler terms to make it easier to understand. 
• Social media groups: are a great source for those who like interacting with industry peers is incredibly beneficial because you can seek advice and insights in near real time. 
• Live events: not only a great place to learn, but they also serve as a great networking opportunity. 
• Webinars: these are great for fostering an interactive environment where you can see a presentation and have when they are live they can provide an opportunity to ask questions.
• Books: are great for total self-study at your own pace.  They are of course the most time-consuming option, but a full book is a thorough way to cover topics in depth. 
• Audiobooks: give a great alternative to a paper book if you don’t have the time to read a full book, you can listen to it while you drive, work out, or while you doing housework. 
• Podcast: perfect for being on the go, you can listen to amazing conversations that include industry experts. They provide practical experience from a variety of people.

Conclusion

To be good at anything you need to study and use good old trial and error to see what works best for you.  Keep in mind, if you try something once and it doesn't work, make a few adjustments and try it again. You can find the type of resource that’s right for you and your day-to-day schedule. Your preferences may even evolve over time, so it’s important to continually experiment with new types of learning.