The Most Important Marketing Tool You Have

Amidst my move of the business to a new location, it’s been interesting working with new marketing strategies and starting over in terms of networking, business building, and just learning my way around town (I just recently moved to Atlanta, GA from Michigan).

But one thing that has remained the same has been my ode to doing good business no matter where you are. Believe it or not, if most of us (black business owners), lived up to this most of the time, we’d be farther than where we are. There are tons of consumers out there who appreciate honest business no matter what race.

I received a call for filming an event, and like most of my potential clients, I always become familiar with the individual (make a personal connection – give your name and remember theirs). I asked about the event in terms of finding out the details to provide the best filming possible. Even asked about a possible event walkthrough. The potential client on the other end was surprised and a bit impressed. He said out of the 20 other video guys he talked to, I was the only one who asked those questions.

At that point I remembered that no matter how much money I spend marketing, networking, building the business, or moving the location, the most important marketing tool I had was the integrity of my business. And in that moment on the phone I felt great that I was continuing to provide the best service I could provide and not just fast talking this potential client into signing a check.

We got off the phone after asking and answering each other’s questions and I knew that I wanted to share this story with the world. I know personally I’ve spent so much time trying to figure out the best way to stretch marketing dollars or compete with larger companies, but I just want to stress the importance of being authentic in your client service, and being a good and fair business owner. That alone gets you to the head of the line fast.

And I DID get the job.