Marketing doesn't have to be complicated, it doesn't have to be time-consuming, and it doesn't have to be expensive, but it must be done. When marketing is done well it will transform your business.
Marketing 3-4-5™ starts with the 3 reasons you do marketing, the 4 reasons people choose to work with you, and the 5 ways they find you.
Throughout the book, you learn to quickly create and distribute content using a Guided Prompt-based approach which ensures you can be effective even if you don't have much time, aren't a great writer, and lack creativity.
While you may not become a marketing superstar or marketing ninja, armed with your two unfair advantages, authenticity and relationships, you and your community will #TakeBackLocal.
Marketing Myths, Misconceptions, and Half-Truths
What’s Stopping You?
People Have Changed
The Balance of Power for Marketers has Changed
You have a moral obligation to do effective marketing
Making Better Marketing Decisions
3 Reasons for You to Do Marketing
4 Reasons People Choose to Work with You
5 Ways People Find You
Examples Make the Best Content
There is No Magic in Anything
All Content of Consequence™ Should Live on Your Website
Marketing 3-4-5™ Content Distribution Flow-Chart
The Universally Simple Local Blog Post Template
Website Page Considerations
Sitewide Website Considerations
Considerations When Introducing a New Website
Describe Your Ideal Customer
Generating and Promoting Customer Reviews
Describe Your Ideal Employee or Volunteer
How Are You Involved in the Community?
Delivering New Value for Your Ideal Customers
Automate Cross-Promotion and Support Local on Your Terms
Yes, You Really Do Need an Effective, Mobile-Friendly Website
Attract More of Your Ideal Customer by Talking About Existing Customers
Recognizing Partners and Businesses That Send You Referrals
Do You Use Your Website to Support Your Sales Efforts? Here's how you can do it...
5 Reasons You Should Add a Donation Request Page to Your Small Business Website
Why Email is Still Surprisingly Valuable
Do You Put Too Much Trust in Social Media, including Facebook and Instagram?
Understanding Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Business Owners
Some Things are Unknowable - The Fallacy of Attribution
What I love About Local Media - Magazines, Newspapers, and Community Resource Websites
A Few Thoughts on Paid Media
A List of Marketing Power Words or High Emotion Trigger Words to Make an Impact
Ecommerce Notables
Marketing Your Franchise, Local Agency, or Licensee Business
Highlight a Creation or Project
Product Overviews, Unboxings or Staff Picks
Spotlight an Experience
Professional Services Example
Employee or Volunteer Recognition
Profile a Client or Customer Recognition
Profile a Cause or Nonprofit
Vendor, Partner or Business Recognition Spotlight
The 5 Types of Network Marketers
The “Two Sales Problem”
People who naturally form positive habits are the most successful
A web presence that says YOU
Local Marketing & Content Plans
Creating Your Content & Marketing Plan
Suggested Additional Reading and Information
Additional praise for Marketing 3-4-5™
Acknowledgments
Notes
Implement Marketing 3-4-5™ with Locable
"Marketing 3-4-5™ Simplifying Local Marketing takes the myth out of marketing and offers you straightforward strategies to help grow your business. This needs to be on every small business owner’s and Main Street Director’s must-read list.”
—Liz Parham
Director of North Carolina Main Street
“Marketing 3-4-5™ takes the fear out of the subject of marketing and gives you the tools to execute local marketing. Brian Ostrovsky has done an excellent job of laying out the steps to help you.”
—Howard Behar
President Starbucks, retired
"I found the book to be an interesting stream of conscious on marketing that any business owner would find useful. It underscored the neglected issue of time and how business owners are disadvantaged by relegated marketing to quick chores instead of spending time learning its complexities. It also rips the bandage off SMBs' increasing reliance on social media without truly understanding its strengths and weaknesses. I'd recommend it to any business owner or novice marketer as a book that can help adjust a company's marketing course in the right direction."
—Gordon Borrell
CEO Borrell Associates
“Local Chambers have a unique role to play in supporting their businesses' marketing efforts, Marketing 3-4-5™ equips Chamber Execs and their members with actionable insights improve their marketing without significant effort or expense.”
—Ed Burzminski,
President and CEO of Chamber Marketing Partners
"A winning strategy that any small business can follow and see results over time. Brian Ostrovsky distills complex information in an easy-to-use framework."
—Joe Pulizzi
Founder, The Tilt and Author, Content Inc.
"As an agency marketer, the number one advice I share with every client partner is ‘no one can tell your story better than YOU.’ Brian Ostrovsky provides an approach to easily humanize your business and ‘tell your story’ in a way to help others find you with “Marketing 3-4-5™.”
—Cindy Sutton
Founder Spokeology
“We started implementing Marketing 3-4-5™ and the results were eye opening. I have worked with both large and small companies and thought I knew everything there was to know about marketing. This approach takes the complexity out of marketing and provides you with straightforward and simple tools that get results! Most importantly it doesn’t require a lot of time. We rank higher on Google and our business has grown exponentially… Thank you Brian and team for making marketing easy for small businesses and organizations!”
—Kathy Fargo
First Choice Signs
"This book has the answers to both of the big marketing questions: "What to do first?" and "Why is it that important?" This is a quick, but complete overview into the what and why of digital and content marketing for the local business owner."
-Andy Crestodina
Co-founder and CMO, Orbit Media
"The Marketing 3-4-5™ framework is a simple, easy to understand process that gives small business owners the basic tools they need to up their marketing game.”
—Thomas Gregory
State Coordinator, Mississippi Main Street Association
"Marketing 3-4-5: takes the mystery out of marketing, skips the buzz words and gives actionable tips and guidance to Main Street merchants looking to take their marketing outreach to a new and successful level.
When you complete the book, you'll have the confidence plus guidance on how to make your marketing efforts a resounding success."
—John Reetz
Journalist/digital transition consultant Media Solutions Partners
This is a good basic guide to marketing as we know most small businesses know their product or service well but are usually not skilled in marketing, this can give them a good start to do the things that make sense to get their marketing ramped up.
—John Fugazzie
Founder of Helping-Brands.com
"Marketing 3-4-5™ is an essential framework for improving how your organization or community share their unique stories and build TRUE COMMUNITY among all residents."
—Ben Levenger
President, Downtown Redevelopment Services
“Marketing 3-4-5™ breaks down the complexity of marketing and gives business owners the tools to take the first step towards an effective marketing strategy. I would recommend this book to anyone building their business or feeling overwhelmed with marketing.”
—Natalie Davis
Digital Marketing Professional
“Marketing 3-4-5™ should be required reading for anyone just getting started in their marketing efforts and for those seasoned SMBs who have found themselves struggling with bringing new clients – the right clients – through the door.”
—Rick Brown
CEO, Rick Brown Communications
“Regardless if you are a business owner, community leader or have any position in the middle, Marketing 3-4-5 is without a doubt a must read in the marketing world. Brian breaks down many of the various components of marketing, which can be a very complex topic and undertaking into easy to understand and executable bites. This book certainly belongs on every marketers bookshelf, or better yet, on your desk for quick and ready reference. This is a must read if you are serious about effective marketing."
—John Newby
Founder, Truly-Local, LLC
"I love the simple step-by-step actions given in this book. It makes it an easy read and easy to incorporate these changes in your marketing."
—Derek Lumsden, MSARP
CEO of Polished Productions Consulting
“In a world where effectively telling our story has become a critical element to the sustainability of our small businesses, Main Street programs, and communities, Marketing 3-4-5™ Simplifying Local Marketing will become your guidebook for local marketing success.”
—Michael Wagler
Main Street Iowa State Coordinator
"In the era of online business and digital marketing gurus, the local physically located small business often gets left behind. Brian Ostrovsky has clearly done his research. Speaking directly to this demographic of business owners, he busts common myths that run rampant in the local business world, offers vital mindset reframes, calls business owners to actions with grounded votes of confidence, and offers clear, simple, and actionable advice to those who need it most. Highly recommended!" ~
—Charlie Birch
Main Street Web Strategist, Third Eye Web Strategies
