Four Critical Lessons for Startups from 2012 Presidential Debates

The presidential debate drives home vital marketing lessons for entrepreneurs and new startups. Beyond revealing which presidential candidate says they are going to do more for small business growth, the recent Obama vs. Romney debates have highlighted four of the most crucial marketing factors for entrepreneurs as we move into 2013.

1. The Best at Wielding Words Wins
Despite all the advances in technology who wins the business is all about the mastery of words, whether in print, via Tweets, call center scripts, phrases used in toll free vanity numbers, in video or face-to-face pitches. So get good at wielding the dictionary or at least make sure you have a great copywriter on call.

2. Always Improve Your Skills
Obama may be fighting his own track record but even normally Republican biased reporters seemed to recognize his dramatic improvement in debate performance between the two recent events. As entrepreneurs realize that coaching isn't for wimps, it's for winners.

3. Social Media is Here to Stay
While there are no doubt millions of men and women who wish Facebook would go away or they could get their hands on Mark Zuckerberg for wrecking their relationships, the last debate was one of the hottest social media events of all time, generating 12.24 million Facebook and Twitter comments. Social is here to stay and it can influence consumers in a big way. So embrace it and get good at it.

4. Face Time Still Rules
With all of the technology today entrepreneurs can start and grow incredibly profitable businesses completely virtually and enjoy massive ROI and profit margins for doing so. However, it is clear from how Mitt Romney was able to leap ahead in polls in just a few days, thanks to the televised coverage of the debates that face time still rules for closing the deal and concreting new relationships.

Putting in the fact time closes on the "know you, like you, trust you" trifecta which is essential for conversions. Plus it creates stronger connections for building loyal, long term customers and referral partners. So before ruling it out as a part of your business model consider the life time value of your prospects and strategic partners and whether it pays to show up, if not in person, at least on Skype.

Plus, thanks to the advancements in toll free number routing and call forwarding, entrepreneurs and small business owners can now enjoy staying mobile for more freedom and closing more business without ever losing control of new lead influx or back end operations.