Home topics small-business-resources general Advice General Advice Five common business marketing mistakes Jo Macdermott April 5, 2013 Is your marketing getting the results you want? If not, it might be due to one of a number of common mistakes that business owners make when it comes to their marketing. Fortunately, many of these mistakes can be easily avoided once they have been identified. By making a few simple changes, you can get your marketing back on target without a fuss. Here are five common marketing mistakes that business owners make: 1. Changing suppliers or service providers without adequate preparation If you want to change your suppliers, make sure you have a good transition plan in place to minimise disruption, and that everyone is aware of who is going to take responsibility for what. Disruption can cause delays as well as unexpected costs. 2. Unclear briefing or instructions for marketing projects If you are working with outside sources, or you have an in-house marketing department, ensure they have clear instructions as to the scope of the project and the steps they need to take. Lack of communication can lead to frustration, not to mention a lot of time spent clarifying and reiterating instructions – which should have been clearly explained at the beginning. 3. Making changes at the last minute If you feel you need to change your marketing strategy , or make changes to marketing materials, make sure you think it through carefully, and allow adequate time for your marketing