I have been a marketing consultant for over 9 years now and have learned some very valuable lessons. Some have helped me to grow as a business person, but some frustrate the hell out of me. Here is my list..
1ne: The biggest obstacle of good marketing strategy is often the organization itself. Too many people with hidden agenda’s and too many processes that are not wrapped around customers.
2wo: A lot of marketers have fallen prey to the “hype” around marketing tactics like social media and mobile.
3hree: The best skill of any marketer is being able to think like a customer and ask “what’s in it for me”.
4our: Much too much time is spent in meetings and doing, redoing, Power Point presentations.
5ive: Marketing is not a science. It is, at a basic level, an understanding of consumer behavior in YOUR product category.
6ix: Not enough effort is made to understand the “moment of truth” (when a prospect becomes a customer).
7even: Brand need to listen to consumers/customers via social media and respond in Internet time.
8ight: All successful marketing programs should be reviewed for key learnings and to learn “how can we get better?”.
9ine: Volume is not as important as profitability.
10en: Good marketers do not take credit for successes but rather ensure the whole team is recognized.