Do You Make This Marketing Mistake?

You have the right product. The research has been done and the findings are promising. You have defined your target market and you know just how to reach them. Yet something is terribly wrong. Marketing is the process in which we figure out how to put our offerings in the proper place for consumers to react to them. Several mistakes are made during this courtship. But there is one mistake that is made over and over again yet is so preventable.

What is the mistake? Simply put, we do not listen to our customers. We talk about everything from innovations to affordability. But we do not appreciate the words of wisdom given to us daily by the very people who keep us in business. In my book, The Six Common Small Business Failures, arrogance is discussed in detail. Arrogant behavior does not allow us to listen because we think that we know it all. Businesses exist to fulfill needs. And the best way to understand the needs of our customers is to listen to our customers. Listening is an admirable and humble trait.

But it does not stop at the customers. We have to listen to market conditions as well as our own knowledge gained from previous shortcomings. Listening to our mentors, advisors, and most importantly, our God is necessary for business success also. We can be keenly aware of our best next move if we only listen.

We have two ears so let’s use them. We should listen in an attempt to relate to others. Building relationships is the backbone of business growth. I can listen and learn from my customers (you!), so contact me via email at fredvjones37@hotmail.com.


Frederick Jones
Noverhead Publishing
www.donotfail.info
www.fredjonesletstalkbusiness.blogspot.com