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By Mark Smiciklas

This small business marketing cycle graphic was inspired by Seth Godin’s Top 10 Secrets of the Marketing Process.

1. Learn – Knowledge is a competitive advantage.

Allocate a set amount of time each day to learn about marketing your small business:

• Online: Read a blog, e-book, whitepaper, newsletter, case study or listen to a podcast
• Offline: Read a business book, magazine article or newspaper article

Here are some links to get you inspired:

• Marketing Sherpa – Practical marketing cases studies and know how
• eMarketer – Analysis of internet marketing trends
• Duct Tape Marketing – Small business marketing
• Neuromarketing – Where brain science and marketing meet
• Web Ink Now – Viral marketing strategies using news releases, blogs and social media
• Seth Godin – Marketing thought leadership
• Chris Brogan – Community and social media
• Brand Autopsy – Marketing and branding ideas from John Moore

2. Plan – A road map will help you stay focused.

A marketing plan doesn’t have to be rooted in theory and 100 pages long to be effective. The most important thing is to take the time to pull yourself away from the day-to-day management of your small business and think strategically – what are your marketing objectives and what tactics can you use to help reach your goals?

Resource: Simple Marketing Plan Template

3. Fear – Embrace it.

Q: How do you know an idea is innovative?
A: When it scares the hell out of everybody (Marty Neumeier – The Brand Gap)

4. Implement – Execute the plan.

Implementation is often referred to as the hardest part of any plan – a great idea is wasted if it isn’t executed. “Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.” (Yoda – Star Wars)

5. Test – Analytics are important.

Test each marketing tactic, idea or campaign to gauge effectiveness. Adjust what’s not working and keep using and improving on the things that show results.

6. Whoops – Learn from your mistakes and those of others.

Accept the fact that you will miscalculate, misjudge and simply make the wrong decision occasionally – learn something from every error and apply that knowledge to your next project, idea or plan.

Continue learning (see step 1) – read about what other small business owners have done and learn from their successes and mistakes.

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