Before anyone starts marketing whether it be online or offline, I think it is important to understand wht marketing is -- and what processes one can follow in order to make sure his or her marketing efforts are going to pay off.
Firstly marketing is a process --- a management process of P-lanning, I-mplementing, and E-valuating the 4 P's.
What are the 4P's you ask? Well, the for P's are as followed:
1. Product
2. Price
3. Promotion (Communication)
4. Place (Distribution)
The 4P's of what?
Well, you can PIE the 4P's of either:
1. Idea
2. Place
3. Person
4. Good
5. Service
6. Cause
To create an exhange being a consumer and business which results in a happy customer (because he/she got the product or the service they wanted) and a happy business (because the business got $ they wanted)
Now --- let's expand a little further on the PIE part --- well the "E" for evaluate.
When evaluating whether or not your marketing strategies are working you will want to evaluate your GST and DOS.
What? GST? DOS? huh!
Yes!
Let me explain.
GST stand for G-OALS S-TRATEGIES T-ACTICS
DOS stands for D-IRECTING SKILLS ORGANIZING SKILLS and S-TAFFING SKILLS.
Many people love eating the PIE, but always forget to eat the last part the E --- Evaluating any of your marketing strategies is vital to your success!
For me marketing is very simple... Almost reminds me of Alec Baldwin in Glengarry, Glenross.
A...B...C...
Always...
Be...
Closing...
Instead of closing, I think marketing.
In that sense as a small business owner, I must ALWAYS be marketing. The most recent episode of the Office one of the spouses introduced himself to everyone at the Christmas party the same way...
"Jim Vance, Vance Cooling" (not the exact phrase but close enough). It is funny to see him do that, but it is almost what you need to be doing as you go through your life. You have to market yourself and your business 24x7 because you just do not know where opportunity may be hiding.
(because he/she got the product or the service they wanted) and a happy 
