3 Marketing Tips Every Business Owner Should Know

Advice from Gerry Foster, owner and president of Gerry Foster Marketing

My friend Gerry Foster is a veteran branding expert and has his office in Laguna Beach. I was fortunate to have him on my radio, so I wanted to share some takeaways from my conversation with him.

First of all, make sure you have money dedicated to your marketing budget. Like I said on the radio, this is the first priority when it comes to putting money back into your business. While it is tempting to buy a new computer or hire an assistant, marketing is what will fuel your business growth. Without out, you won’t be getting your offerings in front of new people, which is key to growth. It’s as simple as that.

What I took from Gerry is that marketing requires a clear path to differentiating yourself from your competition. What’s your promise?

That’s the foundation for building your brand. Know what you are trying to say first, then figure out how you want to tell your story. Is it through humor? It worked for GEICO. Everyone thinks they are the least expensive insurer and they have a silly gecko. It’s a winning combination FOR THEM.

What’s your brand personality? Think about your strength and weaknesses and really play up your strengths. My company, Karla Dennis And Associates, Inc.™, is known for our knowledgeable service providers. We Know the Code. It’s a simple message, but what it conveys is that we will dig into every detail of your personal or business numbers and help you pay the least amount of taxes possible—within the realm of what’s legal, of course.

So take some time to really think about why someone would hire you. Write down key points and be genuine. You marketing message is not going to be effective if what you say is not consistent with who you really are. Think about it: If you misrepresent yourself on a dating site and when you finally have a real date, your prospect is not going to like that trickery.

And as Gerry says, you must deliver on your promise.

Karla Dennis

As seen in Forbes Magazine, Karla Dennis is an expert tax and business strategist. As an enrolled agent, Karla is licensed to represent taxpayers in all 50 states. She holds a Masters in Taxation and Business Development and is the author of two books, Tax Storm and Against the Odds.

Karla, CEO of consultancy firm Karla Dennis And Associates, Inc.™, has saved her clients thousands of dollars and has been featured in various media outlets such as Forbes, MSNBC, KTLA, Yahoo! Finance, and SmartMoney, marking her as the ultimate tax expert.

As of 2014, Karla became the new host on the “Mind Your Business” radio show, KTLK AM 1150, sharing her financial and business knowledge with the greater Orange County and Los Angeles areas. As a supporter of women’s rights and issues, Karla is part of the Women Network, an organization built to educate and mentor women. In addition, Karla is the radio host for Women Network Radio, a show that aims to uplift and empower women of all walks of life.