Making The Most Of Your Communications By Making Smart Outsource Services Choices.

A couple of years ago, my friend and associate, Terry Lewis, suggested that because I know a good deal about marketing and communications, I should consider putting some of it down in the form of an e-book.

Well I have always been a doer, so I started to think about it and talk about it with some of the people I respected most in my business. The result of this thinking and talking manifested itself in an little book entitled, Small Business Communications For The Real World.
It’s not one of those example laden, full of biz speak books that you see everywhere, because I didn’t want to confuse anyone like so many of those books do. In fact, it’s a very basic primer that small business owners can read and find out what they need to do in the communications area of their business to help move their businesses forward.

Failure Doesn't Have To Be An Option
Me

The majority of small businesses have a lot of trouble getting past their first year. The failure rate is in the 70 to 80% range. That's pretty high by any standard.
One key reason for this is that they simply do not start with enough of a communications budget to really get themselves: a) properly positioned, b) adequately branded and c) into effective contact with their target audiences.
And the key reason for that is they simply don't really know what or who to look for to help them in this area.
Knowledge, as they say is power. And this small book was intended to impart some of the basic knowledge, which, for many reasons, a number of small business owners do not possess.

This Book Could Have Been My First Step To 'Gurudom'. But It's Not.

After I completed the book, and showed it to a couple of people I trust, their opinion was that it could be the starting point for a whole new career as a small business guru.
I have a couple of friends who have written elaborate books on different aspects of marketing for the purposes of becoming a “Business Guru”: booking speaking engagements, setting up networking groups of their own and of course, franchising their expertise by selling their methods to people in other markets.
This, for me, is a scary thought. And I told my friends that, explaining I only want to do the work that’s required to help businesses grow. And that the book is primarily designed to make sure business owners understand the importance of developing a solid strategic focus, identifying their target groups accurately and developing their Unique Selling Proposition, which are the keys to reaching their markets effectively.

Affordability Can Make All The Difference
Me Too

My primary purpose in business is to offer SMEs a viable alternative to the high fees and complexities of working with traditionally structured communications companies. And this book, in addition to sharing insights and knowledge, is also a bit of a promotional tool.
In it, I explain these alternatives, the quality of thinking and execution that is available and the economies of scale that can be realized by hiring experienced, multitasking individuals or teams, (there are more than a few of us out there).
In the real world, which is where most SMEs live, costs are always a major consideration. But costs are relative, and the idea of having an individual or small team who can manage the entire process with only minimal additional assistance can often be the difference between affordable and unaffordable communications.

5 Tips To Help You Achieve Affordable & Effective Communications

If your business is a well-funded startup or is at or near the point of transitioning to the need for outsourced communications help:
1. Read this ebook, because it’s a good blueprint for getting started on the right foot or evolving your communications effectively and efficiently.
2. Understand that there are people out there who can create high quality communications at rates that are much more affordable than larger agencies or designcos.
3. Bring that person in right at the beginning to help you create your strategy. This way they will be completely invested and have full knowledge going forward.
4. Appreciate the fact that having a single go-to person or small team to manage your communications is going to save you a ton of supplier juggling and give you time that you can, no doubt, put to good use.
5. Understand that as your communications person gets to know your business, they will develop insights and ideas that may never have occurred to you, especially in the fluid marketing landscape that exists out there.

So I’m Not Going To Be A Guru

As far as being a guru is concerned the simple fact remains…one little book does not a guru make. And that’s a relief.
Helping small to medium sized businesses grow through effective strategic focus and creative communications development is what I know, and what I do. The guru stuff is a whole other ball game that doesn't really interest me.
Feel free to download a copy of my ebook, Small Business Communications For The Real World at: http://tinyurl.com/nqlgtu3
If you would like to discuss your particular situation, feel free to contact me at any time. The end.

POST SCRIPT: I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank you for the readership and support you have shown me this year. I know many people would like nothing more than to see the end of 2016. But it's close enough to spit on now. So I wish you all the best in the new year. As we Canadians are fond of saying: "Keep your head up and your stick on the ice." Try not to worry about the things you can't control and put 100% of your effort into the things you can. Ooops... I'm sounding like a two-bit guru there. Sorry.



All my profile and contact information can be accessed here:

https://www.bebee.com/producer/@jim-murray/this-post-is-my-about-page


All content copyright 2016 Jim Murray

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