Marketing "Sin" #1: Monstrous Marketing

Some businesses embrace a monstrous marketing practice.

As in, “They market like the Loch Ness Monster.” 

Look hard and you can find a few devotees who report amazing experiences. That's about it.

Nobody else has ever seen anything. The business may as well be invisible. 

Talk about elusive! There's no web presence, no social media activity, and no email trail. Just an occasional anecdote from a true believer.

I suspect laid-back solopreneurs adopt this "shy" approach because they don’t want to be “that person.” You know the one: The man or woman with an Instagram or Facebook feed that's one continuous, in-your-face commercial.

So, these quiet business owners go to the other extreme. Instead of telling others, "Here's how my product/service can make your life better," they tell themselves, I’ll provide quality products at fair prices…and trust satisfied customers to spread the word.

Is it possible to build a thriving business this way? Sure. (For the record, it is also possible to get hit by a meteorite.)

A better question is: If you have a product or service that helps people, why the reluctance to tell the world about it?

Use these questions to see if you're engaging in “monstrous” marketing":

• Am I hesitant to market my business? (If so, what’s behind that reluctance?)

• Do I have a viable presence on the web?

• Am I collecting email addresses, and...

• Am I staying in email contact at least every other week with my mailing list, providing them with helpful information and reminders of my products and services?

Marketing like Nessie? 

Realize there's a way to engage customers that doesn't require being aloof and mysterious.

Here's to your business being legendary--in the best sense of that word.