Thoughts on Marketing…

Yesterday I wrote about embracing your competition – and finding out that perhaps instead of competition they could be allies.

Today I made my semi-weekly trip to town for groceries, and since the horse was getting low on grain, stopped at the feed store.

Jack, the properietor, was talking about how nice it would be if the business climate was a bit friendlier. First if the City would be more welcoming to small business people, but then if other business people would be friendlier.

I told him to write about that on his blog and see if he could scare up some like-minded souls.

It really only makes sense to try to help your fellow business people. If, like Jack, you sell livestock feed, pet food, and over the counter veterinary supplies, why shouldn’t you take the extra minute to tell a customer where they might find a store where they could order a t-shirt with a picture of their dog on the front?

It really doesn’t matter what you sell. If you spend much time visiting with your customers you’ll probably hear about other products and services they’re looking for. Isn’t it a gesture of good will to direct them to a business where they can get what they want? If you send customers to another business, won’t they feel friendlier and more apt to send business back to you? And won’t your own customers appreciate you saving them the time and effort to search for the business that could help them?

I think so.

City government may never be friendly, but you can create a friendly atmosphere among business people simply by taking the time to send customers their way. The stronger the business community the better for each person within it – so get busy helping your fellow business people to prosper. It may not come back to you immediately – but it will come back to you.