Marketing – how long does it take to work?

It always takes time for a prospect to become a customer. And it also takes time for a first-time customer to become a repeat customer.

Remember that your prospects are just like you except that they may be buying from one of your competitors. But that competitor probably doesn’t know the value of follow-up. This means that many customers feel ignored after the initial purchase.
Your present customers are also your best prospects and future customers. They already do business with a company like yours and may feel disenchanted because they’ve been left alone after making their purchase. That’s why great marketers find their best prospects and then start a relationship building process.

Most businesses only contact their prospects once or twice (max), and if the prospect don’t show an interest, they move on to other prospects. Don’t make this mistake. Great marketers continue the relationship in simple quiet ways. Eventually, those potential customers feel so cared for, so important, so attended to, that they switch over and begin to patronize the provider who never stops the relationship.

So how long does it take? Well, it could take years, or it could happen in a month, even a week or less. But it probably won’t happen so quickly and it may never happen at all if you ignore them after contacting them just once.

Great marketers don’t lose prospects or future customers because they know about the very gradual process of getting them. When talking to prospects, they talk about their prospects needs and concerns – since this is what is most on the mind of prospects. When great marketers talk about the problems that are facing prospects, this gets them even more attention.

When they discuss issues and provide solutions to them they continue to do this from the prospects’ point of view. Prospects are customers who have not yet bloomed and flowered – they will in their own time. Feed them as you would a beautiful plant. Provide time, information, knowledge, and attention. Walk in their shoes so you can understand what they are trying to achieve.

People patronize a business for lots of reasons. Often it’s quality of the offering, or the service, sometimes the price. But did you know that for fewer than 20 percent, price is the number one criterion? Work on your quality of service and value of your content rather that just price – that way you will have customer well into the future. Also don’t assume that your prospects are very interested in the question "Who are you? or What is your product or service? The biggest question in your prospect’s mind is "Why should I care about you or your business?"

Your clients want to hear a story about them. they want to see themselves and a happy ending to their problem in the mirror of your salescopy "Tell me a story about me” is what they are saying. If you can do this then you show you understand them and the problem they are trying to solve.

Prospects want you to change their lives (and their story) in a way that is appealing to them. Your marketing is a blend of art, science, relationships and patience that does precisely this. But not immediately. It takes time. Be patient!

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