A lot of home-based business owners feel confused by marketing. Especially women, in my experience. After all marketing is a universe most of us are totally unfamiliar with. We want to get everything right and we are not as likely to shoot from the hip as men. Well, I can't clear up all the confusion in one brief article, but I can help you become clearer about how and when you talk about your business with others.



One of my friends was working with a male colleague who was going to help her develop a marketing plan. Suddenly the marketing plan he promised slipped through the cracks. He told her he didn't have time to do it after all. He was starting a new business and anticipated hiring 20 new employees by the end of the year.

Naturally she was disappointed but she was also turned off by his posturing that he was ?so important? and going to create a significant business in such a short time. She thought it sounded like a typical male full of bravado, big promises and hot air. She said she would never say such things until she was actually hiring people.

I told her when men do this they project outward. It's natural for them but it's doesn't come as naturally for women. Very often men tend to make things up as they go along. Sure, they may do the math first. However, they may assume they will get the money before they actually have it in hand. They assume big clients WILL come through for them or getting capital will be a slam dunk. They may have sat down and thought it out just like you. Creating a business and a marketing strategy takes a lot of educated guesses and talking and sharing with others. But no one really KNOWS for certain. They are flying by the seat of their pants. It's like jumping off a cliff and building a parachute on the way down.

Women on the other hand tend to not say a word until their plan and resources are nailed down and in place. We tend to wait and hold back taking a more reluctant stance toward taking risks. It's not as natural for us to project outward.

There's nothing wrong with a little well-placed bravado ? certainly not if our intentions are to create a business we'll share with others. The wrong people might be turned off. However, the right people will be attracted to people who are passionate about their vision. When people project and share what they want they actually attract it to them by saying it over and over. In some ways business and marketing are a make it up as you go along proposition.

I've discovered many women feel they must have all their ducks in a row and everything in perfect order before saying anything or getting started. They are afraid someone might shoot them down immediately. My former husband used to say, "It's better to be quiet and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt." How negative is that?

Some women feel incorporating ideas and suggestions from others doesn't "count" unless they dig up the information themselves. Don't be so hard on yourself. You don't have to discover everything yourself without help. Men take good ideas wherever they find them. Networking is about more than meeting potential customers. It's about meeting people who might help you solve problems and refer you to others.

On the surface it may sound like a good idea to be 110% sure before speaking up. In reality when you stay silent you're not moving energy, building momentum or attracting people, ideas and resources to you. Start talking excitedly and passionately with people about your vision for your business. Share with them your intention. Tell others what you need in the way of support and resources. When you share it, you'll be amazed and happy how many great ideas, resources, solutions and people will come back to you.