SPREADING THE WORD

When I received the Amazon Echo as a gift, I was so impressed that I share its virtues with everyone I talked to for weeks. In fact, I show off “Echo” to all my house guests and still find myself sharing the new things it does with anyone who will listen. To say that Echo was the type of product that, by virtue of its abilities, caused me and many others to help spread the word and to help sell the product, all at no cost to Amazon, may be an understatement.

Last year my grandson went to California to see the new Harry Potter section at Universal Studios. When he got back, all he could talk about was his trip. He shared it with his friends in 4^th grade and most everyone else that he met.

These are but two examples of how a product or service can become a self-generating marketing machine, all at no expense to the owner.

I believe that every product or service is capable of “spreading the word” marketing.

The key to developing the right story is more than creating a catchy tag line for your product or service; it requires an understanding of your target market and what will cause them to become excited.

Knowing and understanding the needs of your target market and how the benefits you provide will positively impact them is a requirement to the development of this type of campaign. This cannot be accomplished by sitting in an office and guessing what your target market needs, thinks and desires.

Obviously the personal research can only be done in a face to face meeting. This requires the GUTS  (God’s Undeniable Terrific Secret)to go out and visit at least 20 of your future customers (target market) and ask the questions that are needed to start this type of a marketing campaign.

Questions to be asked may be dictated by the industry; however, these may help you start your list:

• (In the area of products/service that you provide) what would have the greatest impact on your business?
• What is the most exciting thing this product/service can do for your business?

I hope you get the general drift on the type of questions you need to develop. Develop 3 to 4 questions, and then go out and ask your target market. If you cannot complete such a survey, then you will have a hard time overcoming future obstacles that will require knowing the needs of your market. The future success of your business may be predicated on completing this simple assignment.