Is Your Marketing Message Weird?
When starting work with a new client, I often begin by helping them to establish a clear, specific target market. Almost everyone is hesitant or resistant to do this –unless they have some marketing experience or knowledge.
It takes some time, but almost always I am able to convince them that having a specific population to market to makes marketing a lot easier and actually increases success rather than decreasing it. Part of the process involves helping them to see what is unique about them and what they are offering. Many counselors and healers really don’t know what is special about them and need some help in unearthing this.
I read a post today at Duct Tape Marketing that talks about making your marketing message weird–weird in the sense of being different so that it stands out from from what everyone else is doing. If your practice isn’t bringing you the clients that you want it to, perhaps it’s time to make sure your marketing message is weird. 
Are you Afraid to Start a Business?
I read a great post today, 10 Reasons Young People are Afraid to Start Their Own Business.
Dave Pollard reports on a meeting he had with young folks discussing their
desires and fears about starting their own business. I think this list applies to
everyone, not just young people as the fears are universal. Dave also does a good job of dispelling these fears.
Although the entire post is interesting, I found this piece of information particularly fascinating:
A survey a few years
ago by Inc. Magazine found that only one factor correlated strongly
with entrepreneurial success: A previous entrepreneurial failure.
If you are thinking of starting a
practice or are finding your fears are getting in the way of starting
one, read this list.
