Tales from the Crypt of Online Marketing #16

How the gurus are setting you up for business failure (if you let them)

I’m the impatient type of person. By the time I decide what needs to be done, I want it done NOW!

Not tomorrow.

Not next week (God forbid!)

Ideally, it should have been done yesterday if I had things my way.

I’m sure I drive my team crazy with my unrealistic expectations, but you know what? It’s a big reason we’re still thriving after 18 years.

You see, my impatience is to your benefit when it comes to our level of customer service.

By the time we receive a request, my expectation is that whoever is responsible for fulfilling it will do so as soon as possible.

This quick response service has earned us a reputation for being reliable and trustworthy.

I dare say that not many agencies like ours have the same reputation.

It amazes me when I hear stories of clients coming to us saying their web persona has hidden them or it takes 2+ weeks to do a quick website update.

Is this a way of doing business?

Hell no!

Customer service is one of the biggest focus areas that every company should pay close attention to. Without it, customers don’t have much reason to be loyal, and they’ll quickly look for someone else who can provide a better experience.

But there is another aspect of the impatience of which many entrepreneurs are victims, which is even more important.

And that is their impatience to succeed.

They don’t want to do the hard work like writing a business plan. Or a marketing plan for that matter.

They don’t want to do their due diligence to explore whether their idea will actually have a market to sell.

They don’t want to set up their books to know their numbers. Budget? What’s that??

The list goes on. They’re boring things you don’t want to have to deal with.

What they DO want to do is create.

Create a program that thousands of people will buy online so they can relax on the beach and reap the rewards without any effort. (Which is what the gurus promise.)

Write a book so they can become instant best-selling authors and keynote speakers, earning thousands of dollars with every submission. (Which is what the gurus promise.)

Build an Instagram account with 6-figure followers so they can become influencers and earn millions from amazing sponsorship deals. (Which is what the gurus promise.)

These are just some of the visions entrepreneurs come up with, but no business plan to actually make it happen!

They want to skip all the steps necessary to create a sustainable and successful business, because that’s not fun or creative.

I understand. We all want to accelerate our success. We can all be impatient, especially when it comes to making money!

So if you’re guilty of skipping a step or two with your business fundamentals, it’s not too late. Stop what you’re doing, get help if you need it, and work on those basics before moving on to creative mode.

Your business will thank you for years to come.

For the success of your business,

Suzanne

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

– See our: How great customer service gets you business referrals. Learn how to get business referrals by putting the customer first with good digital marketing and web development agency customer service.

– See our: Why business plans are a must. You’ve heard about the importance of business plans, but do you know why they are so essential? My guest Pamela Chatry shares valuable information about the business plan.

– See our: Why Short-Term Business Plans are Viable Options for Entrepreneurs. Complex businesses require complex business plans, but a simple business plan is better than no plan. Read more by guest author Pamela Chatry.

– See our: Simplifying and Demystifying the Business Plan. Creating a business plan doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. My guest Pamela Chatry covers the important components that go into a business plan.