The Panic Point

Happy Friday!
I don't know if anyone noticed that I have not posted anything here in the past two weeks, but I haven't. The past couple of Fridays I have spent doing some research (going to an art show) and thinking (in the car while trying to deliver work on a tight deadline). I'm trying to get back on track now, but I have reached the time of year that I refer to as The Panic Point.

This happens to me every year. Same time. Right before Thanksgiving. It's the point where it hits me that we are only weeks away from Christmas and I have shopping, cleaning, cooking and decorating looming in front of me. Then there is the end of the year coming and the TAXES to get done! I am reasonably organized. That means I know where the piles of reciepts are, but they still have to be sorted. This year has me even more stressed because I have started this new business and need to figure out what can be deducted AND I am facing the dreaded FASFA forms in January so I can send Kid #1 off to college next year!!!.

Add to this craziness the fact that I am a firm believer that there should be some sort of plan in place for my business for 2011. Where do I want to take this and how am I going to get there? So, that's where the past couple of weeks of research and thinking come in. I have been working through "Guerrilla Marketing in 30 days" by Jay Levinson and Al Lautenslager. There are several of the Guerrilla Marketing books and I have read a few of them. Good info in each. This one is not just about the marketing, but digging down and deciding what you and your company are about and what you offer to your customers.

So, if you can squeeze in some thinking time while driving, cooking, tree trimming, sorting reciepts, wrapping presents and the other million things you have to do right now,
ponder the following questions and keep an notepad nearby for your answers.

1- Who are your ideal customers? How will you find more of them?
2- Why should customers do business with you? What makes your company unique?
3- How can you make your product or service more convenient or money saving for your customer?
4- What are 10 adjectives that describe your company?
5- What ways are you going to market your business this coming year? When during the year are you going to use each marketing strategy?

Whew! Have you reached your Panic Point yet? I hope I didn't make it worse.

You will probably hear from me again before Thanksgiving, but if you are taking next week off...
I wish you a wonderful, safe Thanksgiving. Your business, friendship and support are some of the things I am most thankful for this year.

Christel