Big Plans, USPs, Sharing, and Cake

Chocolate Cake Flourless (1)

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A few days ago, Naomi Dunford challenged her readers to spread an “un-meme”

She asked some questions, challenged us to answer them (hard thinking ahead!) and then to share our company brand manifestos.

Here are the questions (and my answers).

What’s your game? What do you do?

I do marketing for software and creative businesses. I write copy for people who know what they do – but have trouble explaining it – or explaining it in a way that sells. Or want to sell to everybody. Or have great ideas, but trouble executing them.

I do web pages, emails, sales pages, postcards, marketing letters (ahhh, letters), all sorts of words. No ghostwriting. No press releases (but I can get you a whiz at it).

I help figure out your audience and help you stand out from your competition (heck, I can help you not have any competition).

Why do you do it? Do you love it, or do you just have one of those creepy knacks?

I have two scary knacks (both of which I love)!

The first is for cutting through clutter and creating organization out of chaos. My clients (and friends) call me The Clarity Driver. I can look at existing marketing and know what’s wrong, why it doesn’t work, and how to fix it.

The second is I’m a wizard of rewrite (like a script doctor, but for marketing). Scary good at reworking, editing, and makeovers. It’s like sending your words to a spa.

Who are your customers? What kind of people would need or want what you offer?

Creative and small technology businesses. I mean small. Not 100 people. Or 50. Someone with 10 people, maybe 15. Software nerds who aren’t marketers. Design firms who excel at graphic blandishment.

Web techy types (I speak conversational geek). Small is better. I have little patience for bureaucracy.

Could be online business, could be offline. Doesn’t matter.

What’s your marketing USP? Why should I buy from you instead of the other losers?

Bigger places have forgotten what it’s like to be small. They recommend TV, want to do huge mailings, or AdWords campaigns, and they charge a gazillion dollars. Or they drown themselves (and you) in gobbledygook full of jargon. You never know exactly what you’ll get. And when you do get it, you can’t understand it. I keep stuff simple.

What’s next for you? What’s the big plan?

Keeping with the “simple” theme, next for me is a new product called (cleverly) “Marketing Plans Made Simple.” More details tomorrow.
Then the triiibes library (brilliant people, brilliant ebooks all in one place). And probably a second, updated edition of my Instant Website Review checklist. And a handbook of templates (creative briefs, marketing timelines, kill fee schedules, stuff like that).

No plans to move to England. Though, I could do with some Cadbury Roses (chocolates) right now.

Now, go write your own post (or comment). Link back to this post if you like. Or link to Naomi’s post. She promised cake when you’re done, so I posted some. Just be careful, some of those pixels are crunchy.