The Just Enough Rule in Marketing

Let’s face it: It’s much more comfortable to stay in our offices and get ready than to get out there. We perfect our business cards and brochure. We come up with various telephone scripts. We polish our “audio logo” (your brief introduction of yourself and your business). We write and rewrite the copy for our websites.

All of these things are important-- to a degree. We need to be honest and ask ourselves “Are they as important as I’m making them?” and “Will they bring in business or is there something more productive that I could be doing?”

Time to bring in the “Just Enough” Rule and ask yourself:

“Am I prepared enough to move forwards?”

Make sure that your definition of just enough is an accurate one. If your definition of just enough is perfect, then you’re not effectively using this rule.

Here are some examples of how my clients have recently used the Just Enough Rule to move themselves ahead in their marketing and build their businesses more quickly:

1. Do I have just enough marketing materials to present myself well? My client and I decided that all she needed to go in to local business and present her business were high quality cards and a website. Her website didn’t even need to be complete, just good enough that she had a presence online.
2. Have I practice enough that I’m reasonably comfortable and confident? One of my clients was getting ready to give a free seminar to a group of potential referral partners and was on the verge of over-practicing. If she did, she would come across as over-practiced and not her natural authentic self. If you’re scared of public speaking you’ll be nervous no matter how much you practice and practicing too much can actually increase anxiety and decrease performance.
3. Do I know enough about this marketing technique to start doing it? I recently learned that a client had bought 10 information products on internet marketing. Her internet marketing needs were straightforward and she didn’t need all of this information. Marketing is not rocket science. And it’s not a one-time thing where you learn everything, do it once, and are done. (I wish it was!) It’s a continuous learning process and the only way to really learn is to jump in.
4. Who can tell me if I’m ready for action? It isn’t always a good idea to rely on yourself because you won’t feel ready. Instead, get an outside perspective who can objectively tell you if you’re ready to move ahead. You don’t want to be floundering out there on your own. As long as you have support, you can start taking action and get help as you go.

What is one area of your marketing where you can apply the Just Enough Rule? You’re ready enough to get going, so it’s time to take the plunge. Go for it, you’ll do great!

Learn about our individual coaching programs to help you take marketing action.

Comments

[RickDink]

I agree that in many instances there is too much getting ready and not enough action. My experience with Internet marketing is that there might be too much action with not enough given to the research that should be a part of the action.