Why SellMore Marketing?
Good question. You must be asking for a reason . . . ‘-]
Bill Doerr, CLU, ChFC
Partner / Markitect
SellMore Marketing, LLC
I have ten (10) reasons . . .
#1: We Won’t Help You Market a Piece of Crap
How many times have you had a disappointing experience with a business or professional and, as a result of that experience, you said to yourself, “Well, I’ll never recommend them to anyone!”. That’s my point.
“Marketing is more about managing your business
and the experience people have with you than anything else!”
If you think promoting a less-than-stellar experience with you and your business is a good idea . . . we’re definitely NOT the people you want to work with — trust me on this.
#2: We Don’t ‘Do’ Your Marketing — But We Will Help You Get It Done
Marketing professionals do many things to promote your business and develop new clients. And that’s the problem . . .
“If you’re holding a hammer — the whole world looks like a nail”
If you ask a social media expert to improve your marketing, you’ll get a social media solution. A direct mail company will suggest a direct mail solution. A web designer will suggest a new and/or improved website. But what if you don’t need what they do? How will you know? We’ll know. And we have no agenda or ‘sacred cows’ to defend. So you get ‘straight advice’ you CAN rely upon. Kind of refreshing, isn’t it?
#3: Our ‘Ideal Client’ is Providing a Service More than a Product
We don’t work with retail clients. And if you’re selling a product more than a service . . . we’re not the people you want. But we’ll be happy to refer you to a colleague who does.
You may be an Ideal Client for us if you’re seeking to convert the competence of your people into compensation for your business or practice. A woman attending one of our workshops said, “I get it now –– you work with people who have letters after their name and whose mother, spouse or significant other says . . .
“Honey — if you’re so darned smart, why aren’t we more rich?”
We always liked that one. Still do, too!
#4: You Get a 100% You-Must-Be-Happy-Or-You-Pay-Nothing Satisfaction Guarantee
Earlier in my career, I worked at an international trade association – LIMRA International. While there I was mentored by a truly wonderful human being: Gordon Kratz, CLU.
Gordon taught me to use a business planning process that helps companies enjoy significantly greater growth than their peers. After leaving LIMRA, I’ve built upon the foundation of the principles and practices Gordon shared with me.
Today, that process has evolved into: The Profit Project™
This is the ‘core’ framework for the work we do to create growth in a client’s business. And, because it’s so effective, we stand behind our work with a simple guarantee . . .
“If we work together and you’re not happy . . . you owe nothing”
If a consultant is not willing to guarantee their work, you should be asking . . . “WHY NOT?”
Three possibilities . . .
Competence. They’re so IN-competent they know better than to guarantee your satisfaction.
Confidence. They lack confidence in their ability to do what you want. Even worse, they have the nerve to ask you to assume 100% of the risk of hiring them to find out if they can.
Clarity. They’re clueless about whether they can help you –– and they’re hoping you’re dumb enough to pay them to find out.
None of these approaches is acceptable. To us. Can YOU Relate???
During the American Revolution, Duncan Phyfe built quality furniture. He personally signed each piece of furniture he offered for sale. If it wasn’t good enough for Duncan, it wasn’t signed and it wasn’t sold. He committed to provide a solid value to his clients. I feel the same way. Too bad more companies either don’t care enough or know enough to guarantee their work is quality work. And that is why I do guarantee my work and . . . your satisfaction. The risk is mine. The opportunity is yours!
#5: You Value Having an Objective, Well-Rounded Advisor – Not a Biased Contractor
If you’re at a point in your business or practice where you want to proactively market your problem-solving expertise and services, but you aren’t convinced (or, financially ready) to hire a full-time person to ‘do’ your marketing . . . then you must EITHER:
A) do nothing, or
B) outsource your marketing to others
I’m guessing that “doing nothing” probably isn’t an acceptable option for you. So that leaves you with only one option — “outsourcing”. But here’s the problem . . . WHAT is your ROLE if you do this? You have (again) two (2) options:
Option 1: You act as your own GC (General Contractor) and you ‘hire’ marketing subcontractors to do your marketing for you
Nothing wrong with this approach. Many firms to do this. But it assumes, of course, that:
1. you have the knowledge needed to design and manage your marketing effectively
2. you have the time and energy to manage all the marketing contractors you hire
That’s a very rebuttable presumption. Few people have both the TIME and EXPERTISE to ‘manage’ their own marketing. Do you? Really?
And, if you do outsource your marketing, you have to live with the built-in bias of everyone you hire – “With a hammer in hand, all the world looks like a nail!” . . . remember?
Option 2: You hire an MD (Marketing Director) who helps you decide what you need to do to generate better results from your marketing and then finds, selects and manages your subcontractors to ‘do’ the work that you’ve both designed . . . together.
If you opted for Option 1, we’re NOT for you. If you opted for Option 2, we may be!
#6: Marketing . . . Is Our Passion
Life is short. We have to make a living doing something. For others. (Henny Youngman said it well, “Self-employment’ is a misnomer — I can’t afford myself!”) For me and the people I work with, it’s going to involve ‘marketing‘ . . .
“. . . the intentional process . . . for creating and maintaining . . . a relationship with prospects . . . clients and centers-of-influence”
Marketing means developing relationships with people who can best understand, value and afford (let’s not forget that one!) the desirable difference you can make in their lives with your knowledge and services that solve their problems better, sooner and easier than they can without you.
I write about it, think about it, speak about it . . . in short, I eat, live and breathe this wonderful thing called . . . ‘marketing’ every day. Passionate people aren’t easy to find these days; when you do, grab’em!
#7: There’s a Difference Between a Business Expense and Investing in Your Business
I won’t bore you with the details. But I’ve invested a significant amount of money in my business. I learned that there’s a BIG difference between saving a buck and making a buck. I can’t say that all my ‘investments’ in my business have worked out. Some did. Some didn’t. But my ‘mistakes’ were ‘learning lessons’ –– ‘Tuition’ in the School of Hard Knocks.
I’ve also learned that, in business, risk is related to reward. The CT lottery commercial says, “You can’t win if you don’t play”. It’s true in marketing, as well. So if you have to take risks to make revenues . . . make sure you manage the risks you take to maximize the rewards you’ll get when you do.
If you want someone to tell you how to pinch pennies to make a buck, find someone else. I will, however, invite you to find ways to invest IN your business so your ROI puts a smile on your face. If that makes sense, then we’re a fit. If not, we’re not. It’s OK. We’ll both live! ‘-)
#8: I work with OWNERS, not employees
Running a business demands a mindset that, I’m sorry to say, isn’t easy to find. It’s an attitude. A mindset. An owner’s mindset. If you have it, you know it. If you don’t, I will. Here’s why it’s important –– it enables you to take action . . . to take and manage risks. And THAT . . . will make you successful. Why? Because . . .
“Business is played on a 6 inch wide field – between your ears!”
Our ‘sport’ is tougher than rugby (some days) and it’s not for everyone. Maybe not for you, either. But if you’re qualified . . . if you have the requisite mindset to be committed to the game . . . and the will to win . . . then we may have something to work on together . . . making your business or practice grow.
#9: We have a proprietary software — for generating growth — for your business
One of the challenges of hiring a business consultant — is knowing what you’re going to get for your money other than a consultant’s PROMISE to support your unsecured HOPE . . . that your marketing-related challenges will, in fact, be corrected . . . quickly and affordably.
What you typically hear is a promise like this, “Trust me . . . You’ll be happy when this is over”. (My dentist said that about the root canal he wanted me to have, too!)
Why do they promise you’ll be happy? Simple. Because what you’re buying is a future solution to your current problems. In fact, you may not enjoy the benefits of a ‘solution’ for months! In some cases, ugly as it is to even think, you may NEVER get to enjoy the solution they promise . . . but they still ask you for a ‘significant deposit’ to evidence your good faith in them. Incredible, non?
What’s the ‘next best thing’? Some kind of tangible proof that you aren’t being sold a bill of goods! We do that with our Profit Project™ business planning software. It’s a tangible ‘tool’ we use to deliver our consulting services. Also, it gives you something can use – from us – on ‘Day 1′.
If you’ve ever worked with a business consultant before, you know very few of them have or use a GROWTH PROCESS that’s proven to work. And I bet they probably haven’t invested their time and money to create anything like our software that helps you get what you want in the first place — an affordable and effective way to make your marketing-related problems . . . GO AWAY!
#10: You Get Duct Tape Marketing™, Too!
As good as SellMore Marketing is, we’re even better because of our professional colleagues. In 2005, we were one of 10 firms invited to become affiliated with Duct Tape Marketing™.
In 2009, we earned the designation of “Certified Duct Tape Marketing Consultant” – a select group of individuals who love marketing. American Express, BusinessWeek, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, etc. love Duct Tape Marketing™ so . . . well, you get the idea, right?
John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing™, selected us because we love marketing and helping our clients achieve a meaningful level of success from their marketing efforts.
Combining Duct Tape Marketing™ with years of experience helping service providers improve their revenues and profits, makes us ready, willing and able to help you do the same for your services, too.
NEXT STEP:
If you haven’t run off by now, I’m impressed –– enough to invite you to invite us to have a candid discussion about how we may be able to help you grow your business to the ‘Next Level’ by design, not accident. If that intrigues you . . .
Call me at (860) 798-6964 and let’s discuss what working together might look like for you.
Bill Doerr, Managing Partner
SellMore Marketing, LLC
(860) 798-6964