There are marketers out there who call themselves gurus, specialists, experts, and even ninjas. I don’t have a huge problem with titles like this for the most part, but my sense is that if you’re going to use a title, you better be what you’re claiming.
There are so many voices to listen to when it comes to marketing our businesses, so it’s important to sift through what the “gurus” are telling us. My sense is that good marketing is about being in touch with what is sincerely relevant for potential clients while also being true to your personal style of making a sale. There’s really little creativity in simply copying what others are doing, and the truth is that a winning formula for someone else may not be good for you anyway.
Business is changing rapidly and technology (especially social media) is often challenging us to adapt our model for business and the way we connect with people. In this economy and internet-driven world, if we sit on the sidelines for too long and don’t adapt, we will no longer be relevant (just think of Blockbuster vs. Netflix vs. Red Box).
In short, be encouraged today to be yourself in business. Listen to what the marketing voices are saying, but do what makes sense for your clients and your personality. Take a small risk in coming days or weeks to get out there a bit more with your business.
By the way, what marketing voices or resources are you listening to?
It’s wild to think that just 15 years ago the idea of the “world wide web” seemed to be on the fringe, but it’s now a very significant part of our lives. Consider how the world has changed in the past several years with the advent of things like smart phones, 
Why do I spend time thinking about this stuff? Because it’s the wave of the future that is now here. My goal in business is to provide a great product and be relevant, resourceful, and focused on relationships with people (both online and in person). Just yesterday a local home owner googled me and ordered a