Look at your calendar - it's 2014.

You're looking at your calendar and saying, "What? It's freaking November, you goofball!"

A party so good, you don't remember it yet.

Nuh-uh, my friend, Thanksgiving is but a pleasant memory, Christmas returns are underway, and you're not quite over that New Year's day hangover.  In fact, it's almost time for that NFL "Big Game" party (I hope it's featuring this team right here).

Because, in marketing terms, it's January (or even February or March), my friend.

If you haven't planned out January/February/March already (much less the whole year), you're already behind and you may miss critical deadlines for marketing things you want to do, including:

• Advertising in publications such as magazines
• Direct mail or catalog runs
• Display advertising
• Television and radio advertising

Look, you don't want to find yourself on January 2 saying to yourself, "Hokay, now what am I going to do now?"

Now - today - is the time to sit down, think about next year, and decide what your tactics and budget is going to be, and start engaging partners if needed.

Q1 is a period that is soft for many of us, so get on it NOW, because if you don't, you may find your leads and your business drying up, and you don't want that, do you?

Need help?  Drop me a note here: AbanicoMktg@gmail.com

Do You “Do” Marketing?

A friend of mine was telling me about a business owner she knows that proudly states that he doesn't “DO” marketing.

I’d love to talk to the guy, because I want to understand what he means.

Is he running his business by the “Field of Dreams” method of marketing – build it and they will come?

Has he been burned by people selling him yellow pages ads, or direct mail campaigns, or social media, or some other channel, and he got diddly-squat from those efforts?

Is he just an introverted kinda guy, happy to have enough business to pay the rent and working off of referral and drive-by business (both of which are marketing, but let’s pretend it isn’t – same deal with Chamber membership and a listing in any kind of business directory).

Because, honestly, marketing encompasses all activities that involve exchanging goods and services for money.  ALL of them.

Don’t believe me – believe the standard definition from Dictionary.com: Marketing

So, no matter what, if you’re in business, you do marketing.

Will you do it with purpose and a plan?  Or will you just throw things out there and hope for the best?

Which method do you think would be more successful?

(Of course I know the answer, but I’d love your feedback on this one).