I've heard it said, by marketers of course, that success in business is wholly dependent on your marketing. They say that good product, good service and low price are certainly not the key, and these things can always be fine tuned as you go along. The say the key is finding and attracting the people who would be willing to buy from you, and giving them a reason why.

They also say that low pricing is a huge mistake. They say if you're competing on price, then you haven't established enough value to whatever it is you're selling, such that people have no reason to buy from you, and will shop around for price. Makes sense, right?

Now, I'm not a great marketer. If I was, I would be raking in the dough on my website, not sitting here writing this post. Still, this brings a few real world examples to mind that make me think there is truth in what some marketers say. The first that comes to mind is Apple.

Apple computers cost a lot more than any run of the mill computer. Run of the mill computers are everywhere, they are all pretty much the same, and they have only price to compete on, and the price keeps dropping. Yet you can't really get what you get from Apple with those other computers. Also Apple has created a very loyal user base. Mac users tend to flock together. Even though they have a smaller market share overall, they are creating huge profits compared to any single manufacturer of run of the mill computers.

The iPod is another example from Apple. MP3 players are everywhere. They all pretty much do the same thing. Most cost a lot less than the iPod. Yet, the iPod has something like 70% market share.

Now Apple has great marketing. They have funny TV commercials, great web advertising and do many cool events at tech conventions etc. Steve Jobs also seems to know what the people want.

Another example would be major brands that become household names associated with the product itself -- Kleenex vs. any other tissue, Pampers vs. any other Diaper...

SO when I think in terms of my business, and what I am creating and what I want to create, I know I have great products, and even greater products on the way. Still, you could make the greatest movie in the world, but if no one knows it exists... it's that whole tree falling in the forest thing.

The more I read and reread the chapters on action in SOGR, the more I think I am not doing enough, not so much on the creating side, but on the business or selling side. You see, when well known LOA-centric internet marketers launch a new product, they don't sit, think and hope to attract customers for it. They do joint ventures with numerous other well known marketers who have mailing lists with as many as 30,000 people on them. Their advantage, though, is that most of their products are in the same vein.

With what I am doing, or hoping to do, I need t find very specific people. You may have heard the saying, do that thing which is unique and special to you and find the people who want to share in that. That's pretty much what I am wanting. I am not mainstream, neither do I want to be. Mainstream marketing, like Adsense and magazines has done little or nothing for me because the mainstream audience is not looking for what I have...

So, is there a way that, applying the principles of SOGR, I can bring about a path to finding my audience? Is there way, that I may just not have hit upon, that I can effectively market to find and attract the specific people I am seeking?

quote:

Originally posted by Rebecca:
Well, marketing is action. You get to choose: Inspired action or merely motivated action.

Inspired action: Wow, if I do this, look at what great stuff could happen!

Merely motivated action: Uh oh, if I don't do this, all this terrible stuff might happen.

Thanks, Rebecca! I get all tangled up in the marketing steps (up until now)also. this is just what I needed to hear.

Diane

Hey Teruchan,

How's this for manifesting your desire? You wrote here about marketing your business and now you have a couple of people who offer to help.

Isn't it neat how this works?

I love it!

Talk to you soon,

Romy

quote:

Originally posted by Rebecca:
Well, marketing is action. You get to choose: Inspired action or merely motivated action.

Thanks Rebecca. I guess marketing may be one of those talents, of which I perhaps have, at least, the rudiment, that I will have to develop as I go along. If it be true that I am missing something, I can only think it must be knowledge in this area.

ROMY

Thank you, I would love to hear your experience. I will message you.

Well, marketing is action. You get to choose: Inspired action or merely motivated action.

Inspired action: Wow, if I do this, look at what great stuff could happen!

Merely motivated action: Uh oh, if I don't do this, all this terrible stuff might happen.

Hi Teruchan,

Romy here. I too have a online business. I would be happy to share my experience if you like.

You can private message me.

I saw your site too. I will go back now and take a look.

Let me know!

Romy

quote:

Originally posted by SuperHappySmileyFace:

Here’s where it gets interesting. I do internet marketing and like you with your business, I’m really good at it. When I first saw your site I did a bit of preliminary research and noted that there was an opportunity here. I got busy and forgot about it. I can help you. We should talk offline.

Wow. Sounds cool to me. I love your screen name by the way. I expected to see a super happy smiley avatar though.

If you need to find my site again it's in my profile. You can contact me offline through the many contact links on the site. Thanks for writing.

T

Dear Teruchan:
Here’s a coincidence we should not pass up. I was on the forums today looking for you. I saw your site about 2 months ago and noted that your anime portraits would be a great Christmas gift for the kids. My wife and I really loved the idea. I forgot to bookmark it. My wife and I talked about getting these portraits done last night and I said I would find your web site today. And I searched today and found your post about marketing.

Here’s where it gets interesting. I do internet marketing and like you with your business, I’m really good at it. When I first saw your site I did a bit of preliminary research and noted that there was an opportunity here. I got busy and forgot about it. I can help you. We should talk offline.

Best wishes
Chris