Leaving the information age

We are moving from the information age to the recommendation age.

We are so inundated with information that it can be overwhelming. I recently googled my name and found 49,600 items returned. Of course, not all of them were me but many were.

With all this information flying at us it is difficult to make informed decisions on what really works.

That is why word of mouth advertising, as well as endorsements, have become so important.

This has a huge impact on your marketing plan as you prepare to market your business [whether your business is selling books or anything else]. You need to have a strong idea of who your consumer is, what they're doing, what does interest them...and what does not.

I can be honest here, post cards don't really get my attention. But gadgets do. When I'm looking at a freebie at an author's table I will walk past a post card but I'll grab a highlighter pen. I have one that I got at a writer's conference about a year ago. I've used it so much that I could tell you the name of the business. [but I won't]. If I ever have need of the service that business provides who do you think I'll contact first?

By contrast, I have NO idea where the pretty post card was made that I picked up at the same conference [or which pile I threw it in].

So who is your market? Who are their decisions influenced by? How does that affect your marketing.

You'll find out tomorrow. See you then.