TECHNOLOGY & INTERNET22 Quotes That Will Make You a Better Marketer
Every marketer needs motivation, a strategy, money and a vision. Here are some quotes that will hopefully help you deal with these aspects.
I wrote this together with Erin Nelson, our Marketing and Communications Manager here at exploreB2B. I hope you find this as entertaining, motivating and insightful when we wrote it.
Motivation
1.
“We choose to go...not because [it is] easy, but because [it is] hard, …” - John F. Kennedy
Every marketer should take this quote as his life’s motto - marketing is hard. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. But it’s the challenges that make marketing worthwhile and that drive us.
2.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; ….in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt (a man in the arena)
I tried to take a smaller excerpt, then realized all of these words were relevant. It does not matter whether your strategy fails or if others criticise you for it. If you are the one implementing change, what matters is that you have already taken action. Success and failure both come with doing, putting oneself into that competitive arena.
3.
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill
Success in marketing seldom comes arrives in one, swift package. Success in marketing, the kind you can take the credit for (the one not based on sheer luck), requires many little steps and failures. Beyond that, it requires leaders to remain optimistic and innovation in the face of unexpected roadblocks. At some point, you will be able to step back and see the whole picture; these many little failures will have created success, overall.
4.
“One cannot resist an idea whose time has come.” - Victor Hugo
Creativity does not just happen, though often it may seem this way. Research things that move you and allow time for this stimuli to digest. The result will be your subconscious culminating with an idea whose time has come.
5.
“When two paths open before you, choose the harder. “ - Tibetan Buddhist saying
For most of us, it is easier to create a slogan than meaningful headline; to give a product description rather than tell the story of how the product came into existence. Yet to do our jobs thoroughly the story is essential. We give people hope when we describe how our company can make people’s lives more fulfilling, how it relates to a fundamental aspect of who we are. It takes time to develop thoughtful content, to be genuine when we talk about business. But 10 times of out 10, it is more rewarding for your audience – and thereby, for you.
6.
“It’s not necessary to fear the prospect of failure, but to be determined not to fail.” - Jimmy Carter
Make the commitment to develop a thoughtful content marketing campaign and to study the ever-changing landscape of social media. Stick to the hard work, research and analysis this requires - and don’t look back. Don’t let the fear of developing a new and engaging strategy distract you from the benefits you will reap because of your loyalty and diligence.
7.
“Flying might not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.” - Amelia Earhart
The most rewarding events in life are not produced by ‘easy sailing.’ Putting in the time and energy to invest in a marketing strategy that taps into real emotion will be tougher than producing a massive amount of fluff. It’s worth it to challenge yourself and embrace difficulties, especially in ways that benefit the community.
Strategy:
8.
“I believe if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions, they will be moved to act.” - Bill Gates
This is a lesson in communication and expertise. As a leader in your field, it is necessary to address problems, prove you are knowledgeable, and present solutions. If you do your job correctly, your audience will trust you and be moved to take the actions you advise.
9.
“To boldly go where no man has gone before.” - Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek
Drink this up (trekkies) and execute it. Test solutions that nobody has thought of or talked about before. Even if you fail, the reward is greater than the risk. It’s the unprecedented things that make you a great marketer.
10.
"If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
There will always be someone to attack and criticize for the purpose of short-lived attention. Be patient, do not aim for short-term success. Try to generate long-term success and to stray from short lived tactics like provocation or scandals. (There are long term strategies based on those though, see: Paris Hilton.)
11.
Experience teaches only the teachable. - Aldous Huxley
Always be open for what experience teaches you - if you are unwilling or unable to learn, you will never become a great marketer.
12.
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." – Charles Darwin
As a marketer, you must adapt to whatever situation presents itself. At some point, a complete change in strategy might be needed. If some measure you begin fails: adapt. If you find yourself in the middle of an uproar of public opinion: adapt. Failure to adapt, means failure to survive.
13.
“If I paint a wild horse, you might not see the horse... but surely you will see the wildness!” ― Pablo Picasso
Just like Picasso refrains from showing you the actual subject of what he is painting, you should refrain from showing what you are selling. Instead, sell vision and feeling.
14.
“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.” - Richard Branson
Being a strong marketer involves tapping into creativity. Be the leader within your company who takes charge of a marketing strategy that exercises hard work, a sense of awareness that social environments evolve, and – (perhaps, above all) that illustrates the type of creativity that will move people to action.
15.
“A good writer possesses not only his own spirit, but the spirit of his friends.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
Your work as a marketer involves not only the quality of your work, but your ability to maintain dialogue and connect. Listen to the demands and desires of your audience and involve yourself with leaders in your industry. Incorporating their ideas in your work and reaching out to these communities will expand your catalogue of knowledge and strengthen your reputation.
16.
“Our corporate policy is, be smart. We don't talk about things we don't know about.” - Robert Scoble
The message is frank. Strive to be a leader and expert, but don’t claim avenues of expertise which you do not possess. Say what you know, say it well, and people will begin to trust you.
Vision:
17.
“Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” ― Jonathan Swift
You will never be a great marketer without being able to see things others do not recognize. You need to be able to identify opportunities where others see nothing. You need to have a vision when others follow routine.
18.
“Vision without execution is hallucination.” ― Thomas A. Edison
Vision is a big part of what you are trying to do. The other part is actually doing it. Bringing the two together results in good marketing.
19.
“A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.” ― Bruce Lee
Sometimes it is necessary to set your targets higher than you will be able to achieve. Because when you set your targets higher, your actual achievement will also be greater in the end.
Money:
20.
“Any man who has $10,000 left when he dies is a failure.” - Errol Flynn
Utilize your budget. If a project fails because you were scared to invest your whole budget, then you have failed. There is no pride to be taken in hoarding. That does not mean however, that your budget should go to waste. If one measure does not work and costs money, then stop it and find a better place for your dough. You’d be surprised just how often companies fail to analyze and re-assess their losses.
21.
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.” - Steve Jobs
If your primary goal is to make money, you will struggle to communicate your community desires. You will have difficulty convincing an audience you have their best interest in mind and you will likely move few to take action. You will not, in fact, make money. The first step is loyalty to your community. Next, is being able to thoughtfully communicate stories and solutions – to elicit real emotion through these. If you come from a genuine place, your audience will be able to tell – and they will reward you.
22.
“Don’t think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” ― Voltaire
Money is not going to do your job for you. As a marketer, bank accounts only serve as a storage place. If money could do marketing, you would be out of work. Don’t allow your end goal to “be rich” - do it, because you love it. Do it, because you believe in it.
Author
Discussion
Herby FabiusFavorite quotes
# 18 by Thomas Edition “Vision without execution is hallucination.” is one of my favorite quote, Keeps me motivated.
Reply
Jonathan Gebauer
Yep one of my favorites too! Though it is a hard fight with # 17: Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. (By Jonathan Swift)
Maria Elena Lopez GarciaFavorite thoughts
Hi Jonathan. I loved your article. It has very good suggestions. I identify a lot with the ideas which mention quoting philosophers, political, inventors who have or have had in common is the ability to innovate or create. Were or are leaders. I'm in two minds above all else, it would be:
Tibetan "When two paths open before you, choose the harder".
Edison "bir Vision is a part of what you are trying to do. The other part is actually doing it. Bringing the two together in good marketing."
ReplyTibetan "When two paths open before you, choose the harder".
Edison "bir Vision is a part of what you are trying to do. The other part is actually doing it. Bringing the two together in good marketing."
Professional Voice Talent Marc ScottGreat Stuff!
I particularly enjoyed #8 and #14. Of course, I enjoy pretty much anything Richard Branson has to say. That guys full of wisdom when it comes to business!
Reply
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