Let’s Reframe Marketing To Make It Less Scary

There are multiple definitions of marketing. Here is one from the AMA (American Marketing Association):

Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.

Hearing even the word ‘marketing’ can be scary for some people. And I understand this. It is an ever-evolving skill with new ways of marketing, stepping out of your comfort zone and can be a costly thing. However, marketing is necessary to show the world what you have to offer.

So here is my definition of marketing:

Marketing is telling people that you exist, explaining about your offerings, what you are passionate about in an authentic way that lights interest in people to find out more.

Sounds less scary, right? Telling people about what you do and show them that you are passionate about it? No problem!

After telling them what you have to offer, you need to convince them to buy from you. And this is called ‘sales’. Make sure it is as easy as possible to buy from you and outline the benefits again for buying your product or service. There is an entire science and different kinds of methods that can help you with your sales skills.

What really helps with enjoying your marketing activities is to be yourself. It is not about hard selling, it is about telling people that you are there.

But keep in mind: business is business. You have to earn some money with it and be profitable to support your life. If not, I would reframe it as a hobby.

If you want to find out more and discover authentic marketing, check out my book ‘Authentic Marketing for Start-Ups’