Success In Marketing Depends On Your Answer To This One Question
If your Success in Marketing were to ride on your answer to one question – this would be it.
People often ask me for help them achieve success in marketing by using my skills as a copywriter and brand strategist to boost their website conversions and sales and/or the Return On Investment of their advertising. Some are seeking free advice while others ask with the intention of retaining my firm to do some creative work for them. My answer is always the same: “Before I can help you, you have to answer one question”.
“No problem” is the usual reply. I then suggest they wait to hear the question before they make any assumptions.
I have found that one question is the key to any marketing program, any advertising campaign and even any decision to start a business. If you, as a businessperson, cannot answer this question immediately and without grasping for thoughts, then you have the basis for an effective, successful marketing campaign. If you can’t (and I warn you, way more than half cannot) you need to go back and find an answer before you do another thing.
The Most Important Question Your Business Can Answer To Predict Success In Marketing Is...
“In what meaningful way are you different than your competition and how does that difference benefit your customer?”
When there is little or no significant difference between products or companies, the consumer – rightfully – makes his choice based mostly on price. If the first words out of your prospect’s mouth are “How much does it cost?” you haven’t developed a differentiating statement or a “killer” marketing message to differentiate your business from your competitors in the mind of your prospect.
Failure To Differentiate Can Be Fatal
This lack of a differentiating statement has killed many a good business because without it, your marketing and advertising has no power. No power to educate, no power to solve a problem, and no power to persuade. No less authority than Raymond Rubicam, chairman of Young and Rubicam agency cautioned: “...the beginning of greatness is to be different and the beginning of failure is to be the same.”
Find Your Differentiating Idea Now, Before Another Moment Goes By
A differentiating statement is something your competitors cannot or do not say. It can be product related or it can be related to how you do business. Here are some examples:
> The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand. (M&Ms)
> Tastes great, less filling. (Lite Beer)
> When banks compete, you win. (Lending Tree)
> If you’re ever dissatisfied with one of our tires, feel free to bring it back. (Discount Tires)
So, before you run one ad, before you print one brochure, before you write one sales letter, or send one postcard, determine your differentiating statement. Then include it in everything you do. Teach it to your employees and to your children. So that whenever someone asks, “Why should I do business with you when I can go up the street to Joe and get it 5% cheaper?” - you’ll have an answer that will turn the tables in your favor.
Differentiate and win.
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Many budding copywriters and business owners need help in crafting branding statements, advertising, online web copywriting and content, press releases and the like. I encourage you to find a good branding strategy consultant/professional copywriter who can take what’s in your heart and your head and put it in a way that will let you reach your goal of educating your prospects, allowing them to conclude they would have to be raving lunatics if they didn’t do business with you. If you're looking for a good online digital copywriting course, kindly check out Write Like A Madman And Make Money Like Crazy, my 13-Video, 30-piece multi-media Signature Course. Click here to watch the first video Free