Marketing starts with YOU.
What exactly do I mean by that? Think about your product, service or brand. Why do people want to buy it? Do people want to buy it at all? What sets you apart from others in your industry? In my opinion, these questions need to be answered before you start any marketing campaign.
Let Your Product Speak for Itself
Think about brands like Netflix, which for the most part utilized word-of-mouth marketing to grow their following. Remember back in 2010 when Netflix was just starting to become popular? I know all my friends were obsessed with it, but I don’t remember seeing many tv ads or online ads about it.
How did they get so popular through word of mouth? Well, as you know, they have an amazing product that revolutionized the streaming industry, putting obsolete brands like Blockbuster out of business. They saw the future of online streaming before anyone else did. Most importantly, they let their product speak for itself. If you have an amazing product and do the right outreach, marketing will be simple.
Does Your Product Have Value?
Before you can set up your Facebook ads or your PPC campaign, you have to know that what you’re selling is a valuable product. You have to know why a lead will choose you over someone else. Before others can see the value in your product, you have to see it for yourself.
This is where using your existing network comes into play…
Whenever I’m testing out a new product, service or campaign, I always test it out with my colleagues and existing list to get feedback. From there, I can make tweaks and changes before setting up a full-on marketing campaign. Plus, if your product is valuable (and I’m sure that it is), then your existing network will jump at the chance to refer you to others.
I’ll talk more about the importance of referrals in my next blog post, so keep checking back in!
Building the Groundwork
When testing out a new product on your existing network, you’re already creating a buzz. Let’s say you’re launching a new digital course on copywriting strategy. You let a few friends try it out and see what they think. Ideally, they’ll love it and start referring it to their own networks. Your friends can provide feedback and testimonials that you can use for your campaigns. Even before the product is launched, you’ve already built the groundwork for a successful campaign.
Remember, if you don’t believe in your product, how can you expect anyone else to believe in it?
All effective marketing campaigns start with YOU.
Let me know what you think in the comments below and contact me with any questions about entrepreneurship and marketing. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.