Lisa's Virtual Ramblings

It is all over the news, the economy is bad. Yes we know thank you for telling us over and over again because we quite didn’t hear it the first, second or thirteenth time. By the way, did you know the economy is bad?

But what does this mean in terms of a businesses marketing budget? As we all know the first budgets to be cut are always the marketing budget. Why? It seems since the new business is far and few between, the all mighty powers that be feel that marketing isn’t too important as the existing customers will stay customers and why bother to try and pick up new customers during a down economy?

The reason to not stop your marketing is when the economy begins to pick up, the first companies or products which are going to be remembered are the ones who didn’t stop their marketing efforts. And (yes I used an And to begin a sentence) there are people and companies who are still making money and not feeling the downside to this economy. They are still spending money and going about their lives as if nothing has changed. Think about this population and target them!

This is why I ask the question, “Why stop your marketing?”

With all the new ways to market your business, why not open your mind up to the endless possibilities. It’s just not about print or radio anymore! Video optimization, content creation, podcasts, webinars, online article marketing, social media marketing and online press release distribution, oh and blogging; don’t forget blogging, are all great tools to use when you want to continue marketing to reach a different or new audience.

So ask yourself should you stop all your marketing efforts? When this economy begins to turn around, think about who will be ahead (competition) of and who will be left behind (you).

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Today I finally dedicated the entire day to working on my new book. I conducted research and began my outline of how I want the book set up.

It will be about Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona with many photographs and not too much writing. Yes, a second passion of mine is photography so when I was asked if I would be interested in a book where the majority of the book will be pictures, I jumped at the opportunity, as well as bought a new camera.

Of course I told a few local people about the book already and they made some snobby comments like, “Um, well hasn’t that been done already?” Instead of responding back nastily, I just smiled and said, “Yes, probably but aren’t there tons of books with the same story published and different character names?”

OK maybe that was a little snobby response back…but what is a new author to do? Be insulted before the book has been completed?

I did go to Barnes and Noble to check out my competition and there wasn’t too many books. The concept of the publisher is a very unique one so I am hoping this will help with interest and book sales. I am also trying to feature places that other touring books have not covered.

Spoke to my publisher today as well to get a few questions answered like do I need signed releases and I never received the book building guide.

Two hours before the work week is over, or is it?