We all know that marketing should be a business priority, but we business owners are often forced to wear many hats. More often than not we're the accountant, receptionist, secretary, and the local handyman, so it's no surprise that it's so easy to overlook marketing.

However marketing is one of those things that it pays not to forget about. It is essential to every business, no matter how big or small.

Below are a few reasons that marketing should be one of your top business priorities, and whilst you'll most likely say duh, I knew that, to a few of the points I'm about to make, let me remind you that knowing and doing are NOT the same thing.

1. Marketing brings new customers:

Doing a great job is wonderful, but if you don’t have any customers, who’s going to know what great work your business does? The bottom line is that if you don't market your business, don't expect any new customers.

2. Repeat backend marketing keeps customers happy:

Customer only loyalty promotions keep those who have previously done business with you coming back for more. And we all know it is easier and more cost effective to market to people you have already done business with.

3. Marketing is about attitude and image:

Where and how you market says a lot about your company. Larger companies spend a huge portion of their budgets making sure that their image is just right. Smaller businesses, with smaller budgets, often overlook their image in trying to chase down every sale. The bottom line might be important, but don't sacrifice your image to get there.

4. Marketing is not all about advertising:

Traditionally speaking marketing and advertising was one in the same thing, but today technology and the way people interact have changed all of that. You have to find and tap into the new ways to market, or you'll create a dead dinosaur of a company… HINT think social media

5. Good marketing is about getting ahead of the competition:

You don't have to spend more than your competitors to get noticed, you just need to shift your thinking and be more creative. Just because you have the best fishing rod does not mean you'll catch the most fish. HINT: Go where the fish are biting.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to deal with marketing, you've got a serious problem in your business, and I humbly suggest you either get the hell out of business, or hire someone who really knows what they are doing.

Marketing is the single most critical part of any business, because no marketing = no sales and no sales = no business.