The Battle of Positioning -- Altruism or Paranoia?

Competition in the past has embodied such beliefs of "kill or get killed" which has fostered paranoia with many individuals and companies. Our competitive thinking has been to: defend, hoard, knock off competition, defame and win at any cost. A view propagated by Intel's Andy Grove that, "only the paranoid survive."

Do we prosper more from paranoia or can we actually prosper more from altruistic behavior by entering into relationships of reciprocation. Moving through the first decade of the millennium finds that we are experiencing trends of new competitive thinking that is largely driven by Internet marketing. Affiliate programs, partnering, free, value creation, and a host of reciprocal marketing strategies are being used for driving consumers to patronize online business.

The operable word for the consumer is "reciprocal." The consumer is driven by, "I will give you my business in return for value over and above cost and time." Speed, convenience, quality, accessibility, enjoyment, aesthetics and problem solving solutions are the value creations that customers look for today.

While altruism is surfacing as an edge for marketers there are other influencing strategies that lure the consumer, such as increasing amounts of PR (public relations) coupled with fully integrated off-line, on-line marketing.

Just as magicians or illusionists mesmerize their audience with words and props, we seduce the consumer with an assortment of means and marketing weapons. Integrated marketing plays a vital role for small companies and Multinational Corporations.

Think of your marketing weapons as your magic kit for shaping your message with a multifaceted approach that promotes and elevates your business for high visibility and generates an enthusiastic response in the marketplace.

Before deciding which weapons are best to influence, motivate and capture your audience, don't lose sight of your primary goal: to sell your products and services.

Planning is essential, however you need to know for what it is you are planning. Yogi Berra said: "If you don't know where you're going, you could wind up someplace else." Knowing where you are going will have to include the Internet.

The days of not being on-line have gone.

The anatomy of today's multifaceted approach to positioning requires the integration of on-line marketing into your planning. Business Week's June 28 cover story concludes: "Any company that relies on the traditional sales force will now have to do some soul-searching.

Companies are finding they need new skills, from logistics and distribution to marketing." The landscape is rapidly changing for all business. Here are some key points for growing your business.

? Be more targeted in selecting your niche markets.

? Fine more diverse ways to sell goods and services, maintain customer loyalty and confidence while building brand equity.

? Growth of your business may require more altruism in your marketing mix, as evident today.

? PR will play a vital role in the growth of your business. Small and large businesses need to use PR to rapidly define a product concept or brand and for luring consumers.

? PR and technology accelerates direct selling, making it faster and more cost effective to reach customers locally and globally.

? Use media releases for optimizing your marketing campaigns. They can change perception and give instant third party credibility to your launch or re-launch of products and services.

Don L. Price: Author, Sales/Marketing & Positive Change Solution Provider, International Speaker & Mental Fitness Coach http://www.donlprice.com

Invite Don to speak at your next Convention, Meeting or Retreat. Optimize your Power to Succeed with Strategic Performance Marketing/Sales and Success Coaching, for Reaching Higher Performance in Your Personal and Business Life.

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Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:50:00 GMT Fitch says AMD factory move has no ratings impact - Forbes Canada.com Fitch says AMD factory move has no ratings impact Forbes - 51 minutes ago AP 10.07.08, 3:48 PM ET Fitch Ratings said Tuesday Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s ratings are not affected by the chip maker's plans to spin off factories into a new joint venture with investors in the Persian Gulf state of Abu Dhabi. What AMD's fab spinoff means for Intel, industry MarketWatch Who Benefits From AMD’s Financial Engineering? New York Times The Associated Press - BusinessWeek - Motley Fool - Bizjournals.com all 656 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:58:11 GMT Fed Announces Plan to Buy Short-Term Debt - New York Times Telegraph.co.uk Fed Announces Plan to Buy Short-Term Debt New York Times - 58 minutes ago By EDMUND L. ANDREWS and MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve announced a radical new plan on Tuesday to jump-start the engine of the financial system. Fed makes boldest move yet Christian Science Monitor Federal Reserve to buy up short-term commercial debt Los Angeles Times Bloomberg - NECN - The Associated Press - Wall Street Journal all 1,716 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:51:44 GMT Get moving: Guidelines set healthy activity levels - The Associated Press ABC News Get moving: Guidelines set healthy activity levels The Associated Press - 38 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AP) - Get moving: New exercise guidelines released Tuesday set a minimum sweat allotment for good health. For most adults, that's 2 1/2 hours a week. Government tells Americans to take stairs, go out and play Bizjournals.com Get 2 1/2 hours of exercise per week, US says Reuters USA Today - Food Consumer - MarketWatch - MyFox Dallas all 183 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:11:51 GMT Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS - San Jose Mercury News dBTechno Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS San Jose Mercury News - 8 hours ago By Linda Goldston Ayde Gonzales's mother was surprised when she insisted that her newborn son must sleep on his back, not on his side. Fan Use May Save Your Baby’s Life, Reduces SIDS Risk eFluxMedia Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death New York Times Bloomberg - Wall Street Journal - U.S. News & World Report - WebMD all 612 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:46:19 GMT Kenya deports anti-Obama author - Christian Science Monitor BBC News Kenya deports anti-Obama author Christian Science Monitor - 4 hours ago Jerome Corsi, author of "Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality," tried to launch his new book, but violated immigration rules, Kenyan officials say. Barack Obama's African grandmother Sarah Onyango Obama roots for him Times Online Anti-Barack Obama author detained while promoting his book in Kenya Los Angeles Times AFP - The Associated Press - New York Times - BBC News all 507 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:09:55 GMT Axelrod Says Obama Will Counterpunch if McCain Raises Ayres - New York Times Axelrod Says Obama Will Counterpunch if McCain Raises Ayres New York Times - 2 hours ago By Patrick Healy NASHVILLE - Senator Barack Obama is prepared to hit back, including with Keating Five scandal if necessary, if Senator John McCain uses tonight’s presidential debate to attack him over his associations with controversial figures like ... Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress Palin Adds Fannie Mae Execs to List of Objectionable Obama Associates Washington Post The Associated Press - U.S. News & World Report - FOXNews - Christian Science Monitor all 4,761 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:32:14 GMT Union-Backed Party Opposes Term Limits Plan - New York Times New York Daily News Union-Backed Party Opposes Term Limits Plan New York Times - 1 hour ago By Fernanda Santos The Working Families Party began on Tuesday the labor community’s first major offensive against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s plan to change term limit laws through legislation that would extend to three, from two, the number of terms ... UPDATE 1-NYC lawmakers to weigh bill raising term limits Reuters Bill to end term limits introduced in City Council New York Daily News New York Times Blogs - WNYC - Campaigns & Elections - Crain's New York Business all 331 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:15:23 GMT Clickbank Affiliate Make Money From Home

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