There are some staggering statistics on how few businesses actually have a marketing plan in place. Of course, I went looking for details including the definition each author gave “marketing plan”. I was not surprised to find generalizations and conflicts. Which made me wonder:
“What does the average business think when asked directly about their marketing plan?”
Most will tell of the advertisements, the websites and promotions. Those are 
the vehicles of a marketing plan, but if they are not directed by a marketing strategy it’s more about hoping than planning. If you were going to drive from San Francisco to Washington D.C. would you just hop into your car and start driving? Even with GPS, planning a route that suits you would make the trip more effective and fun. That’s the role of the marketing strategy: defining how your business will appear and to whom.
Business owners are unfortunately not versed in this important area of a marketing plan. Most simply use research, charts and a calendar (if that) and forge blindly into spending money on brochures and ads that have only general targets. Without the entire equation, you cannot reach the sum: leads!
Marketing strategy + Marketing plan = Lead Generation
Isn’t that really what we all want? We don’t want plans: bound tomes of demographics and statistical analysis. We want leads, opportunities, at-bats. Call it what you wish, but without creating leads to potentially close whatever you choose to call your “plan” is a failure. The lack of a sound marketing strategy accounts for more than half of the lacking lead generation. E.g. Most companies have been educated that their website requires some level of SEO or optimization to obtain top search engine placement. So you execute these techniques and get clicks, but they aren’t converting into leads. Usually, the website is blamed. I would look back at the marketing strategy first. It’s almost always the culprit.
This is why I focus my consulting on strategy. Without it your business is like a car without a steering wheel. There is a tremendous lack of specific teaching in marketing strategy. Everything I offer clarifies the three key areas of marketing: strategy, planning and lead generation. Plus, I work tirelessly to make it approachable for any business.
If you are lacking in any one of these areas, please review the ways I help clients fill the voids and increase their sales on my website.
After all, marketing without sales is failure.
sales people read books and attend seminars that tell them to ask questions in order to engage their prospect. The problem: these books and seminars can’t really help you if you don’t have sales timing. It’s like comedic timing – if you miss it your joke flops. In this case it’s your sale. 
the store? Though there are many variations few would argue that,
expectations that your interviews rarely reveal.
selling proposition that you back up and deliver is one of your best ways to become notable. Of course, you need to exorcise those high school demons and shun conformity. If you are going to be different, do it where it’s going to translate into dollars.
you want to know if a client will buy something you should probably ask them. 
Like anything, you need to have a goal for your poll or survey. If you are trying to determine features of a new product, you best be certain that your target is remotely interested in this type of product. They won’t give two cents about it’s features if they aren’t already slightly interested. As always, the emotional triggers of need will help focus your Q&A. 
U.S.P. or your Unique Selling Proposition is so important that if you get it wrong you can stop wondering where your sales have gone. You must honestly be able to answer the question, 
