MC Blog: Seven Marketing Motivators

One of the biggest issues about marketing for Independent Professionals is motivation. They find it hard to motivate themselves to market their services. After all, if you aren't motivated, you don't act. But what few ask themselves is, "What kind of motivation?"

If we find the right motivation, marketing is very easy. Here are seven kinds of motivation that will put your marketing into action. Which one is right for you?

1. Fear of Survival
"If I don't market myself, I'll go out of business." These days, with the economy the way it is, I suspect this motivator is on the rise. The trouble with this one is that it can lead to despair and desperation. And you know how those attitudes only repel clients.

2. Riches
"By marketing my business, I could be come very rich and successful." Definitely a big motivator for a lot of people in business. But the drive towards materialism will tend to make you a shallow person with questionable ethics. You'll do anything for a sale.

3. Competition
"Not only will I be successful, I'll be more successful than you." This clearly propels a lot of people into action. But being bigger, better, and more famous than the other guy is a formula for frustration. Someone will always be bigger and better.

4. Ego
"If I market myself, people will think I'm smart, wonderful, and beautiful." Well, you may think you're smart wonderful, and beautiful, but your clients don't give a damn. This can lead to pathological personality disorders. If you need ego gratification, become an actor.

5. Accomplishment
"By marketing my services I'll have surmounted a great challenge." Accomplishment is its own reward; it does feel good. But it's easy to get caught in the activity trap of marketing. "Doing marketing," is not the same as attracting clients.

6. Love
"I've got to share my services because I love this profession so much." This is certainly a purer motivation. If you are passionate about what you do, your enthusiasm shines through. What doesn't work is that it's still all about you.

7. Service
"My services will provide so much value to others, I need to this value far and wide." At last, this one isn't about you, but about your clients. This is about making a difference, a contribution. This is also the most magnetic. Assuming your services genuinely make a difference, this motivator is the most powerful of all.

I have been driven by all of these motivators at one time or another. I sometimes find myself slipping into motivators one to six. But so far, motivator number seven not only moves me into action, it generates inspiration, joy, and endless energy, not to mention a lot more clients!

Cheers,

Robert Middleton

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Comments

[Jeff Paul Internet Business]

There are some amateur internet marketers that think about renting domain names for promoting their sites. Well honestly it’s a bad plan but it also can be a good business idea.

[Lewis Green]

Robert,

Good stuff. I find myself moving through each of these, depending upon my mood and my concerns. For me the greatest motivator is number 1 but not out of fear. It is just a reality. If I don't market my business, why would anyone hire me to help them market theirs, assuming they knew my business even existed. Nice work.