Marketing Basics: 5 Things You Must Know Before You Market

by Debbie LaChusa

(1) You must know WHO you are selling to

For your marketing to be effective, you absolutely must understand who you are selling to. Your goal is to create marketing that speaks directly to your prospects and taps into the conversation they are already having inside their head about your product or service category.

(2) You must know WHAT you are selling

But just knowing and understanding your prospects is not enough. You must also understand WHAT you are selling.  While the answer to this question may seem obvious - you are selling a product or service - this is not the answer that will make you a successful marketer.

(3) You must identify the problem you solve

You must know what problem you are solving for your prospects. You must understand how your product or service can help them with this problem. 

(4) You are selling a SOLUTION

Many  marketers fail because they sell product or service features. They talk about their product or service and everything they think is so great about it. But they never address what it does for their prospect.  BIG MISTAKE!

When you market your product or service features, you are expecting your prospects to translate those features into benefits. You are asking them to figure out how your product or service makes their life better or solves a problem they have. You don't want to make your prospects work that hard!

(5) Make your prospect's life easier

Tell them exactly how you can make their life better. Tell them how you can solve their problems. And better yet, tell them how you do it better than everyone else.

© Copyright 2005 Debbie LaChusa

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to make marketing your own business as simple as answering 10 questions. Learn more about this unique, step-by-step system and get a free Marketing Mini-Course when you subscribe to the free, weekly 10stepmarketing Ezine at http://www.10stepmarketing.com

NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article as long as you make no changes and you include the "About the Author" information at the end.  Please let me know if and where you use this article by emailing me.

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