12-Week Marketing Boot Camp Teaches Small Businesses How to Regain Control with New Lead-Generation System
CHICAGO, May 12, 2009 — From all outside appearances, Jim Montrose’s small business was thriving. As one of only three importers of hot, new tech gadgets to the multi-billion dollar market of logoed premiums, Jim’s business was on autopilot.
That was, until Google systematically dismantled his business.
Not the Google company. Google, the search engine.
Like most small businesses, Jim prided himself in solving customer problems with innovative solutions, responsive customer service and nimble custom-order turnaround. His sales reps knew all the major buyers, and over the years, earned the right to get last-look at the big deals.
But in 2001, customers started pulling away … not just from Jim, but from a dated procurement process built around (and limited by) human effort. While Jim’s sales reps were masters at getting appointments, buyers discovered they could easily find the information they needed on the web and avoid the meetings altogether.
Google introduced buyers to vendors all around the world and to a completely new way of doing business. Buyers could go direct to manufacturers in China or try out Jim’s new upstart competitors who favored online marketing.
Jim, and his business, had become classic middlemen on their way to disintermediation.
Last month, Jim’s business was liquidated. He lost his house, his car, and all forms of income.
More road kill for the Google search engine juggernaut.
This scene is not unique. In droves, small business owners jam online forums to lick their wounds, reminisce about the old days and to complain about customers not returning phone calls. Some await old days to return. Others hire former competitor salespeople in hope of tapping into Rolodexes of stale contacts.
And the smart ones? They’re not complaining and they’re not putting retreads on old tires … they’re going back to school … to a highly specialized, 12-week Lead-Generation Marketing Boot Camp - solely for small business owners who recognize that while the game remains the same, the rules of engagement have changed.
Beginning Tuesday, June 9th, qualifying small business owners will receive detailed, hands-on training for creating their own, custom lead-generation system that:
- Attracts new buyers
- Engages prospective buyers earlier in their vendor selection process
- Binds sales and marketing to a common mission
- Is measured by lead-generation outcomes
Meeting each of 12 weeks in peer-group and individual calls, participants are given detailed guidance for accomplishing each segment of their overall lead-generation system.
Boot Camp Leader:
John Fox is author of Marketing-Playbook - The Definitive Guide to B2B Marketing for Small Business, a book endorsed by Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Al Ries, Riva Lesonsky and Perry Marshall. Fox has been president of Venture Marketing, a small business consulting and training firm in Chicago, since 1996.
Details:
Registration: http://www.marketing-playbook.com/bootcamp
Course resources: Personal consultation, conference calls, training videos, online forum
Tuition: $799/month ($2397 total)
Application: $100
Photos:
http://www.marketing-playbook.com/press
Contact:
John Fox
Venture Marketing
630-355-6951
johnfox@venturemarketing.com
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