Super Size Your Marketing
Marketing is the action of promoting interest in good or services for the purposes of selling. If you are looking for some ways to reinvigorate your marketing efforts – here are a few ideas.
Be Present. People do business with people they know and like, so build your network, extend your reach. Attend events, join community organizations. Be seen frequently. Make the personal connections, don’t rely solely on email or online presence.
Get Listed — Free. It would be a shame if you didn’t take advantage of free listings online. Be sure to set up your free business pages in Google Places, Yahoo Local, Yelp and others. Include as much as you can about your products and services, hours of operation, specials, even add photos or offer specials. It’s a key, free way to market on mobile devices and Web search engines.
Focus on the Top 10. Make a list of your top 10 prospects or referral sources and keep it visible. Put the list on your desk, your mobile phone, or use it as the “wallpaper” on your computer. Contact each of these key income-generators at least once a month.
Know Your Brand. Be clear in your branding. Make sure it conveys who you are – then use it consistently on everything, your website, business cards, packaging, newsletters, marketing materials, invoices. If possible, give your brand some zip and personality that makes it memorable.
Talk Value. Let people know what they get, not what you do. Keep your marketing materials and messages, focused on the benefits the buyer receives – of course, customers compare features and services, so you’ll need to include those. But always emphasize the benefits those features bring.
Stay in Touch. An e-mail newsletter or e-blast can be an effective and inexpensive ways to regularly stay in front of customers, prospects, and referral sources. Make sure your newsletter provides some value for the recipient, such as useful information, details on discounts or a special offer.
Online Visibility. Be proactive about your online presence. Make sure you have a website that promotes your business and is mobile friendly. Learn about social media. If you sell to consumers, get a Facebook page if you are selling business to business than leverage your Linked In connections. Actively monitor your reviews on Yelp and other review sites, encourage your customers to post reviews.
Tracking Connections. Keep yourself organized by using a contact management system. Track details of past and current customers, prospects, referral sources, and more. This data is an invaluable business asset — use it for staying in touch, making sales calls, announcing new products or sales and more.
There are endless ways to get in front of your potential customers and stay in touch with current customers.
YOUR CHALLENGE: Build a marketing strategy for your business and track your activities and your results.
If you would like to learn more about how this might apply to your business, let’s talk: