Several people have asked me, “Why is an accountant presenting a marketing workshop?”.   I thought about it, said to myself, “self, that’s a good question” and decided to give an answer.   So here we go…..

I’ve seen too many small businesses fail.

Many times failing not for accounting or tax issues but for lack of marketing efforts or sales training.

Many times relying way too much on “word of mouth”.  Failure then happens when people either stop talking about you or begin to say “not so good” things about you.  In other words, you can’t rely on just one method of marketing.

Most of my accounting career has been working for or with small businesses. The majority of my current clients are small business owners.  I’ve worked with every level from the Owner to the janitor and I’ve seen how many of them prosper or fail.

Having a great vision, product or service is fine but it fails if there is no marketing or sales skills to move your vision, product or service from your hands to the marketplace.

Here are several reasons I’ve seen for business failure –

• Trying to be everything to everybody as opposed to finding a target market.
• No real system for tracking your outstanding sales opportunities.
• No consistent marketing effort.
• Always looking for new clients to the exclusion of offering more to existing clients.
• Owner must do everything as opposed to delegating to employees, partners or interns
• An accounting system does not exist (“I must be okay…I’ve got a little money in the bank.”
• Lack of capital or other financial resources
• Lack of a follow up system

Being a small business owner myself, I personally know and understand the effort it takes to keep a business running.   I’m always looking for a way to be more efficient, effective and profitable.

Over the last 19 years, I’ve studied more maketing and sales books (Zig Ziglar, Jay Abraham, Dan Kennedy, Chet Holmes, Loral Langemeier, etc.)  than my wife cares to think about and taken several sales courses as well.  (The Sandler Sales System is highly recommended.)  For any small business owner, business development officer, sales or marketing manager (they may all be you), I believe this type of study is a must or you will be left behind.

The Visions into Action Marketing Workshop is my way of giving back to my clients and potential clients.  For selfish reasons, I want to see you succeed (if you make a lot of money, you’re going to need me even more).

Furthermore, if the US Economy is to be changed for the better, its going to be on the backs of small business owners.   Small business owners drive innovations, sales, capital and employment and I want to help that effort.

So there you have it.  This is why an accountant is presenting a marketing workshop.   If you haven’t registered yet, CLICK HERE, and do so as soon as possible.  We only have room for 30 people and we are filling up quickly.  (Also you need time to do the homework I’m going to send you – remember this is a workshop!)

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, July 7, 2012.

Feel free to comment and share.

If you’d like to contact me regarding this or other tax planning or business ideas, please give me a call at  240-356-5050 .

To Your Financial Health.