IN the business or...ON the business?
CEO prospects of Coombs Marketing, almost ALWAYS ask some version of this question:
"How much of my time will you need to work with us?"
That's an interesting question, and one that's not easy to answer on a first call (and sometimes on subsequent calls). The question I want to ask in return is,
"Are you getting the results you want?"
Because it's not about time. It's about value. What is worth more than attracting, converting, closing and delighting your customers?
Can you think of a better way to invest your time?
So will it take some time? Yes. And it will be worth it!
Whatever the business, it’s human nature to stay in our comfort zone. To spend time where we have the most knowledge, skills, abilities and let’s face it—passion! After all, it’s our passion for what we do that got us where we are.
But on that path, eventually every business hits a wall. And it hits that wall usually because top management is busy doing what they are good at, ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. It’s easier to deal with the urgent and pressing fires of the moment than to slow down and really think through why we’re struggling, and find a more permanent solution. When we try, it feels like we are a fish out of water. So we put off developing the right strategies to ensure our growth and reach our goals.
Working IN your business means doing the daily tasks of the business.
Here's my personal example. As the CEO of a marketing and event agency, I spent my time developing budgets, writing proposals, checking the books, working on events, dealing with employees, putting out fires (sometimes of my own creation!) It all seemed a part of everyday life. At the end of the day, I felt like I had accomplished something. But I wanted the business to grow. I thought, there was always time to worry about "strategy" tomorrow.
In fact, if my calendar wasn't filled with tasks, I would break out into a sweat. What do I need to do now, start cold-calling or asking for referrals from my current customers and order all my account execs to do the same? It felt like madness.
Until, I learned to...
Prioritize working ON the business.
I found ways to delegate day-to-day operational tactics. I made them the clear responsbility of someone else. (Who usually was better!) That was a better way to "spend-invest" my time. That got me the results I wanted.
If you have come to the conclusion that you want to grow your business, then you need to invest the time to work ON your business, rather than IN it. It takes time to save time. And create repeating value.
Internet marketing and the inbound methodology is much closer to "sales", and value creation, than marketing has ever been.
And the strategies, once established, are repeatable and scalable.
Ultimately the time invested becomes a selling annuity. It just keeps paying off.
So, how much "time will we take" of yours? Whatever it takes to be of value to your bottom line.
Want to find out more about the inbound methodology? Take our Inbound Marketing Assessment and learn if you are ready for inbound. Know that great lead generation requires attraction, relevant engagement, strategic data measurement and action on that data.
For more information on Inbound and Internet Marketing:
- Content creation creative strategy-Don't avoid the obvious!
- Every business is an online business
- Got 90 Seconds? Inbound Sales & Marketing Methodology Explained
