Traditional advertising methods are still being used for almost 90% of businesses today. The number one problem with this, is that all everyone else seems to be following the same old methods.
No matter how expensive, does your advertising look and sound like a lot of other advertising? If you take a look at your business card design, flyer design, brochures, letterheads, web page design and any other methods you are doing, you'll probably find some very familiar pattern to looking like your competition.
Just because "everyone else" believes that the traditional method of image advertising is the way to get business does not mean that it is the only way...or the best way. Thousands of people go out of business, or miss a lot of business, because of "traditional" thinking. Don't fall into the trap of being an advertising look a like.
If you follow everybody else, you'll likely end up being like 90% of the people in business on your way out or, at best, making a medium income. There are two things your marketing should do for your business
1) It gets the response that you want - it gets people to respond to you.
2) It lets you provide good products or services to your customers that you do get, so that you are making an above average income and get enjoyment out of your ongoing successful business. A business that started and runs with marketing that appeals to what people really do want, instead of what you think they should want.
In order for you and your business to become a success, being different is something you're going to have to accept. Sometimes being different means that other business people will not like you, or will think you are not appealing or think other things about you that you don't want them to think. But again, the reality of this is, who are you trying to impress? Are you trying to impress your peers, or are you trying to get and help customers who need your product or service?
Think about this hard, because if you are really scared about being different, this might not be the system for you. But, then again, being different doesn't mean being sleazy, obnoxious, unethical or illegal. It just means different.
Sometimes the old tradition, especially in industries that are tired and steeped in tradition, think being different with being unethical or illegal. That's far from the truth.
We all know that being different simply means different. And hopefully, you'll see this as a part of becoming a success or more successful as time moves on with your business operations.
The reality is that you have no image, and no one thinks about you until they have a reason to. Being worried about what others think is a waste of energy and time. Spend your time worrying about what your prospects who are interested in what you have to offer think.
They're the ones who are going to buy from you and they're the only people you should be concerned with. If your peers or others don't like what you're doing, that's their problem, not yours.
This change of attitude is a challenge, but very necessary especially when focusing on what is important. This type of thinking and rationalizing only matters what your prospects think is important. It doesn't matter what I think, or what your competition thinks. As long as your prospects and customers are happy, then you should be happy!
Copyright © 2005
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About The Author

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new leads and more customers without spending a fortune. http://www.multiplestreammktg.com
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