Interview with Susan Getgood, GetGood Strategic Marketing Inc.

Tell us about your business.
GetGood Strategic Marketing is a marketing and social media consulting firm that helps companies meet their customers online. We specialize in integrating online tools like blogs, social networks, and yes, even traditional websites, into the marketing strategy. A major focus is blogger outreach – helping companies develop strategies for directly engaging with the online customer in an authentic and effective way. We also engage on more traditional marketing projects – marketing and business strategy, sales/marketing management, direct mail etc.

We work with organizations of all sizes, on both a project and retainer basis.

Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
I like helping people solve business problems in creative, effective ways. Starting my own business gave me the ability to work with a variety of companies in many different industries. It also allowed me to expand beyond the traditional marketing discipline to social media marketing.

What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
I’d be hard pressed to pick just one.  All the people I’ve been privileged to work with over the years have influenced me in one way or another. Some very positively, others as examples of what I absolutely NEVER want to do or be. And I’m still learning.

I can however pinpoint something that had a profound impact on my career, and that’s the introduction of the first web browser in 1994. It was immediately clear to me that it would change the way we market to our customers, and Internet marketing became a focus of my career from that moment on.

What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
I have two, one from my former life as a corporate employee and one current.

When I was still on the inside at a corporation, I revived a flailing business unit and helped my employer sell it to another firm for nearly 10x what it had paid for it.

Currently, I would have to say it is publishing a marketing blog continuously for 4.5 years that is an acknowledged resource for marketing and social media professionals.

 What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?

1.       Stop selling once you’ve made the sale.

2.       Always ask for the order. If you don’t ask, the answer is definitely no.

3.       You cannot lose money on every deal and make it up in the volume.

4.      Stay focused on the desired business outcome, which is generally to make the sale. No one ever went into business to raise awareness. 

What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
Be flexible. There are ups and downs in the business. Things change. Your ability to adapt quickly to new situations will make a difference.

I also strongly suggest being a generous networker. Building good karma is as critical as not burning those bridges behind you.

Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you succeed?
Nothing specific, other than to suggest you regularly participate in at least one business or professional organization or network that has an offline as well as online component. 

What is Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
Finish my book,  Engaging with Your Customer Online – A Roadmap for Social Media Outreach. (working title).

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Love what you do. Life is way too short to hate your job.

How can our readers find you online?

Company URL: www.getgood.com

Business blog: Marketing Roadmaps at getgood.com/roadmaps

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Delicious: sgetgood