{"id":7135,"date":"2020-03-23T09:08:10","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T07:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dazzlepop.net\/site\/?p=7135"},"modified":"2020-03-23T09:08:13","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T07:08:13","slug":"3-marketing-lies-small-business-owners-tell-themselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dazzlepop.net\/site\/3-marketing-lies-small-business-owners-tell-themselves\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Marketing Lies Small-Business Owners Tell Themselves"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Too many startup leaders deny the difference quality marketing makes and what they can afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whip-smart brand positioning drives revenues for enterprises from Apple <\/a>to Zappos<\/a>. But for growing organizations, cutting-edge marketing can feel like a luxury.\u00a0The Small Business Association suggests companies\u00a0budget 7\u00a0to 8 percent<\/a>\u00a0of revenues for promotion, yet the average small business<\/a> allocates\u00a0just 1 percent<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s a shame, given that marketing brings in more money than it costs. A\u00a0Nielsen study<\/a>\u00a0revealed an average return on investment of $1.09 for every dollar spent getting offerings in front of clients.\u00a0Remember, that\u2019s an\u00a0average.<\/em>\u00a0With a little planning, marketing can deliver serious returns for even the smallest of startups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Marketing Lies Small-Business Owners Tell Themselves <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting entrepreneurs to invest in marketing begins by knocking down common misconceptions around it. Here are the top three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3 Marketing Lies Small-Business Owners Tell Themselves <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lie No. 1: I don\u2019t really need marketing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy for many small-business owners to make a virtue of necessity by minimizing their need for brand promotion. There\u2019s an intuitive logic to this lie that makes it seductive. Growing organizations often cultivate local followings, connect with their customer base using grassroots techniques and rely on word of mouth to spread their reputations. If they\u2019ve experienced some success, they can convince themselves that marketing isn\u2019t a significant driver of revenue. Better to plow those funds back into avenues that create value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can small businesses get away with cutting corners like this? Occasionally, but not for long. Companies that skimp on marketing rarely fare as well as they would have if they’d invested in promotional channels. Many entrepreneurs whose startups failed regret underspending on advertising, brand management and strategic initiatives.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Truth: <\/strong>The numbers don\u2019t lie: Everyone needs some marketing. The key is to do outreach that fits your brand\u2019s needs with the budget you have. Getting bang for your buck is getting easier in the digital age. Buildfire, an app builder for small-scale entrepreneurs, suggests<\/a> starting with these options for maximum impact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n