Debbie LaChusa

I got a call the other day from an infomercial company interested in learning more about 10stepmarketing. One of the first questions he asked me was "What is marketing to you?" He wanted to be sure our definitions were the same. He asked if it's what a business does to get clients and make sales, and I said "Yes." That's a very broad definition of marketing and that's the way I like to view it.

Others consider marketing to be a very distinct list of activities, such as advertising, direct mail and public relations. I believe that's too narrow. In my view, marketing is anything you or your company says or does that impacts how people perceive your business or that attracts clients and sales. In addition to the traditional marketing vehicles, it can also include things like how you or your staff answer the phone, how your office or retail store is decorated, how you and your employees dress, and even the colors of your logo mark and website.

Because there are all kinds of things you can do to attract clients, some more conventional than others. I recently interviewed one of my clients and she shared a very unconventional approach to marketing. She also shared that it was working amazingly well for her, and the best part was, she could do it anytime she wanted to drum up some more business and it doesn't cost her a dime. Be sure to check back on Friday to listen to my interview with Barbara Coon. You may be surprised at how she's building her business. And it may just open up your view of what is marketing.