> know my bottom line.

> Sorry I can't help here, I just don't know
> on any given day whether what I'm doing is
> selling or marketing...and quite frankly,
> I'm not overly concerned.

> The Akron Regional Development Board has
> recently undergone a name change (a
> MARKETING change) and has become the Greater
> Akron Chamber.

> Same people doing the same thing (and NOT
> doing a very good job in my opinion)...only
> the change is supposed to help them with
> their MARKETING of our wonderful area. At
> one time not too long ago, Akron was the
> smallest city to host multiple Fortune 500
> companies, like Goodyear and Firestone. But
> those days are gone forever and the smoke
> filled skies over Akron are now clear enough
> to see the Goodyear Blimps doing their daily
> workouts.

> The Greater Akron Chamber does a lot of
> MARKETING and a couple of years ago GOJO
> industries relocated to downtown Akron (and
> they left Cuyahoga Falls, the second largest
> city in the county)...

> Akron made the SALE. Cuyahoga Falls lost.

> But here is my point...maybe...

> I'm meeting with a development specialist of
> the Greater Akron Chamber very soon to go
> over a business proposal...she wants a
> completed Pro Forma.

> She wants the NUMBERS plugged in BEFORE we
> do a business plan. Her experience will tell
> us what and where to stregthen the plan
> based on NUMBERS...the BOTTOM LINE.

> The dot com give me money and I'll show you
> how fast I can lose it days are behind
> us...savvy investors that are interested in
> a region's long term growth want to see the
> well thought out concept of MAKING A PROFIT.

> Cause without profits, without sufficient
> CASHFLOW, I don't care what you call it or
> how you think of it, marketing, selling,
> advertising, promoting...

> without the RESULTS, it doesn't mean a thing
> (in MY opinion).

> So I'm sorry I can't tell you which thing I
> do doing the course of my day is one or the
> other...but I have learned this:

> those activities that keep brining in the
> CASH are the ones I keep doing. The
> activities that DON'T add to the bottom line
> get quickly set aside.

> Now, I've got to post my Friday Follow-up to
> the SeedZine...so I'm about to try to sell,
> er, market you something.

> Gordon (Mr. Confused when it comes to
> Marketing vs Selling) Alexander

Gordon,
Glad to see I'm not the only one confused when it comes to Sales versus Marketing. You have been at this for a whole lot longer than I who is just getting started. I don't feel so bad now.
Ken