Hi Bogdan,
Sorry for not getting back to the forum sooner, got a wee bit busy.
I think Mary said it the best, it is all in perspective of how you read. B.C Forbes was noted for his provocative quotes of that there is no doubt.
When I first saw this quote by the way, without realizing, I actually read it as
" If you don't drive (market) your business, you will be driven out of business.
It was after giving it thought and actually doing some research on the man, that I revised my way of looking at this quote and its meaning. It was how I based my last comment to Bogdan.
That being said - Lets look at this quote from the angle of assumption - that the business model has been chosen, the business created.....
What next?
How to get the word out..the call to action...or the promoting aspect to any successful business.
We have off and again..online affiliations, commission sales..affiliate programs, call it what you will. They all follow a formula if you will.
Just to be clear there are those who are Master Affiliate Marketers, who have through trial and error learnt the ropes to this type of industry and make their living doing this type of business very successfully.
So what is the criteria to making driving your business successfully?
1. You need to know your product. Unless you know the ins and outs of any product, from its uniqueness, its history everything there is to know about a product, you can not talk with authority.
2. You need to know your market. This to me is simple, but complex. You need to understand the demographics of where you are going to sell. You need to understand people, their wants and needs. Does it answer a need, answer a problem or create a solution.
3. You need to know all the different avenues..or venues where you are going to get the information about your product to anyone and Mary did give some good ideas to this.
4 You need to know the trends in how things are marketing in the now as well as in the future. If you study the net, you will see that everything is moving towards Web 3.0. We are in Web 2.0 ( not to be confused with the program of the same name), so be aware of this.
5. Being organized. In the context of marketing, being organized means having your log ins organized, how long are you going to do any one activity, taking care of your single best tool, your computer, knowing how to use the Web 2.0 platforms to your advantage. This means learning how to use forums, social communities etc properly with proper content and good manners.
6. Creating relationships with your customers in an ethical manner. Know how to be a good sponsor and being there to answer all the questions one might have.
7. focus. Without a focus you can not succeed in any business affiliate or not. If there are programs out there that can help in your primary business, then logic says if you have done your due diligence, then of course you will add to your arsenal.
8 Learn how to brand yourself, so that when you create those relationships, people, in this sector or your customers, will learn to to go to you, because you have shown you are an authority figure.
9. Learn the business laws of advertising. The fact is there are many who come into the marketing platform, ill equipped to know what is spam, copyrights etc
10. Humor. Regardless of whether you are an owner of a business, an executive or working on the net in whatever capacity, if you cant laugh, then it is just a fact, it will end up being just another job, that surely will drive anyone out of their business.
I believe I have now covered everything from both perspectives.
Regardless of the perspective, without good friends to support and help you, having a successful business will mean very little.
I wish all of you well and may you be successful at whatever you do.
To Your Success,
Diane
Administrative Director
BlogNet Awards