Seth Godin: Why Small Businesses Fail—Inc.com

On Marketing Mistakes Generally, Bad Marketing Messages in Particular, Social Networking, and More

Geoffrey James at Inc.com writes: “A few months ago, I traded emails with best-selling author Seth Godin on the subject of marketing inside small businesses. The more I read over the interview, the more I realize that his advice is priceless.”  Here’s an excerpt of the interview.  Read the whole piece for the rest of Seth Godin’s answers to Geoffrey.    

What marketing mistake do most small businesses make?
They believe in the mass market instead of obsessing about a micro market. They seek the mass market because it feels harder to fail–there’s always one more stranger left to bother. It’s the small, the weird, and the eager that will make or break you.

What’s the right mix for social networking?
Comment less, contribute more, retweet none. We need you to be generous, not Dan Rather.

Read the whole interview with Inc.com’s Geoffrey James here. 

Listen to American Public Media‘s one-hour On Being segment with Seth Godin here.  

Krista Tippett queries Seth on what catalysts changed the course of his life, what it’s like to get 990 book rejections in a row, and what it’s like to have your father lose you (probably not purposely) in the middle of a big city at 1 a.m. when you’re a small child.   

Failure in Business Can Teach How to Succeed Next Time

see also:

• Seth Godin:  Why Small Businesses Fail   —Inc.
• Seth Godin: The Art of Noticing and Then Creating  —On Being [American Public Media podcast; Krista Tippett]
• How to Get Your Ideas to Spread   —TED Talk [Seth Godin]