[Reposted due to database problem]

A good friend came to me recently, pretty much begging me for help with her marketing. "Marketing makes me miserable," she said, "and I'm no good at it."

I'm the opposite -- I find marketing thrilling about 99.9% of the time, mainly because I am genuinely curious about the people I work with and help with their small business marketing issues. When I tried to get to the bottom of my friend's frustration, it turned out that she'd always thought that going into business would be about what she wanted to do, not what other people needed from her. For her, marketing is a vicious tug-of-war, and she's the one who ends up with her face in the mud, making less profit than she wants and staying frustrated about her fruitless efforts.

I encouraged her to contact a couple clients whom she really likes -- and ask them to let her know what they're looking for in a vendor. That info, combined with her own likes and dislikes, will guide her to a better business plan -- and she'll likely see the marketing results in short order.

When you do your homework about your prospects, it doesn't have to be a lousy experience to market yourself and your small business. In fact, it's almost a guarantee that you'll see success. And every time I make a little extra cash, it makes me smile. You don't have to suffer through your marketing -- just find the right balance.