We're definitely not in Kansas anymore. It's a social media world out there - so we're told.  I'll be skipping my way down the yellow brick road because they promise:

• With Twitter I will grow your business 140 characters at a time.
  
• I will share my brand's unique point of view with Instagram.
• I'll Get my business on Google for free.
• By marketing on Tumbler - I'll will create something extraordinary.
  
• Their small business resources give me the tools, tips, and guidance I need to make the most out of LinkedIn.

• With Facebook I will meet the people who will love your business.
  
• Pinterest is proving to be a great way to express the passion and dreams that define small businesses.
• HubSpot - They're always looking for the highest quality content, and they have a hunch I've got some up my sleeve. 

Now that Tiger Team Marketing is up and running on all these sites I can just sit back and wait for the hundreds (thousands!) of shares, website hits & mailbox pings & small business followers. We'll go viral for sure. I'm clicking my heels 3 times.....
Gotta go post some cool pics.

Let's say you own a small business, and you want to find new ways to increase sales. Do a Google search on ANY topic you care about, and you'll come up with dozens of  X-best lists. You can spend hours (days?) looking for information that MAY address your questions. Too much information, not enough help. Starting and growing a business is a huge challenge. From our own experience here's how you can get started: 
Set aside an hour or two, out a piece of (virtual) paper, and do this: 

1. List your business goals.  Get specific.  What's your revenue goal for this year?  Next year? Realistically break it down by product, service, customer type, markets (new, current).
2. Describe your ideal customer.  In detail.  Why would they care about your product? Are they local, regional, global? Where do they go to find products and services like yours? On-line, friends, business associates, on a bulletin board in your local coffee house?
3. Create a conversation about your products and services.  Imagine you have just one minute to explain it to a prospective customer. Describe it in their "language", why they should care, what makes it the best, how it benefits your customer.  You want to re-enforce your brand - what makes your business and products unique. Create a "value proposition" that is casual, compelling and exciting.
4. Develop a marketing plan based on what you have outlined above. Make a list: What kind of marketing "content" do you need and where should it be placed?  You might print and post flyers, update your web-site, start or re-ignite your blog, use Facebook and other social media for low-cost targeted advertising. Leverage your expertise by writing informative articles for relevant publications. Find ways and places to create offers and incentives for customers to buy. Develop a targeted and consistent reach in on-line communities and physical locations where your target customers congregate.
5. Work your plan.  Make sure you have a 3-6 month budget. Prioritize, create, and communicate. Get outside help and coaching where you need it. Measure results, make adjustments, and keep working it!

It is a common challenge for small and emerging businesses to shape their big picture view into a focused marketing plan. Leveraging 3rd party expertise enables the team to clarify marketing priorities and implementation.

Meteor Ovens is a promising start-up with a compelling new commercial cooking solution, which is receiving high praise from early customer trials. Their product and technology offer powerful customer benefits.  

The Meteor Ovens team is very clear on their target customers, how the product improves productivity, and increases restaurant profitability. They quickly needed to have a professional market presence and compelling content. Like many start-ups, Meteor Ovens is a dynamic, fast paced organization. Business Development drives their marketing needs.   

Working with the Meteor Ovens team, we developed the company website and much needed marketing content. As part of our Small Business Service, Tiger Team Marketing will continue to build company awareness and credibility through PR and social media. With this partnership we see the forest and not just the trees.

One of the most challenging marketing tasks is creating a powerful product or solution value proposition.  In my experience technical product managers tend to focus on feeds and speeds.  Marketing often doesn’t understand how the product solves customer problems.  I frequently work with product management and marketing to create a persuasive message. It’s not easy to boil down a complex solution into a meaningful statement. 
This was top of mind as I started pitching Tiger Team Marketing services to prospective customers.  I knew that I needed to be more concise and compelling.  This is the Tiger Team value proposition.  Let me what you think.