Virtual Marketeers

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Today I would like to apply the old crossing the road ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ motto to business.

If a pedestrian does not stop, look and listen then they are taking a huge risk, and there might be very unfavourable consequences. This is the same for business.

In business it is really important that we stop, have some brain clearing time, and consider where we are at right now, where we are heading and how we might get there. But it is also just as important to take action.

STOP is about pausing for an appropriate period of time, having a think about where we are at right now and where we would like to be. It is about the bigger picture goals such as:

• Preparation or review of our business plan, including short term and long term goals.
• Establishing or refining the niche area / target audience.
• Looking at and questioning our methods and our values.

LOOK both ways, to increase your chance of success. Some ways you can do this:

• Gather and analyse data.
• Research of the niche market area, technologies and other information as needed.
• Obtain feedback from clients.
• Compare notes with others.

These things allow you to stay informed and therefore make better decisions.

LISTEN to what the data tells you, what your research tells you and take into consideration what others are saying. Some things to focus on are:

• What did you figure out by analysing the data?
• What seems to be working well according to the client feedback.
• Things that aren’t working so well according to the client feedback.
• What does your research results tell you?
• Consideration of new technologies.
• Consideration of other people’s thoughts and advice.

When looking and listening remember to filter the information that is not useful to you.

The goal must be ACTION!

If a person chose never to cross the road, because maybe they were worried about the road never being 100% safe, then this person would have a different problem – they would be stuck.

Looking at and revising our business plan, business policies, procedures and methods will assist us to make more informed and intentional decisions within our business.

Move forward confidently, but also remember to ‘Stop, Look and Listen’… to review the most important aspects of your business and look at your bigger picture goals.