Business marketing ideas.
Do market research
Market research is an important part of developing your marketing strategy. It’s about collecting information that gives insight into your customers ’thinking, buying patterns, and location. In addition, market research can also help you to create an initial sales forecast, look at market trends and pay attention to what your competition is doing.
Learn more about market research.
Print your target markets
Trying to advertise your product or service to everyone can be expensive and ineffective. Grouping or differentiating your potential customers based on specific factors will help focus on your marketing efforts.
Separation is usually based on factors such as:
geography - location
population - age, gender, level of education, income, occupation
character - honesty, attitude, willingness to buy, prices to use
lifestyle - social class, personality, personal values.
Your target market should have a demand for your product or service and be willing to pay for the sale.
Get your unique marketing suggestion (USP)
USP is a different reason your customers buy from you and not your competitors - that's what makes your business stand out from the crowd. It is important that you explain what you are doing differently and be able to pass it on to potential customers. Usually, this reflects your special knowledge or skills.
Your USP may have a new or unique offer or offer a different service. Start developing your USP by answering the following questions:
What do you like most about your products and services?
What special skills or knowledge do you have?
What makes your customers come to you instead of their competitors?
How do your customers benefit from buying your products or services?
What aspects of your business do you highlight most when it comes to explaining your business to strangers?
Improve the productivity of your business
All businesses, regardless of size, may need a product. Product is more than a logo, color or tag line. A well-defined brand connects emotionally with your target customers and conveys who you are, what you stand for and what you can deliver.
Choose your marketing strategies
While there is much to be found, consider your target audience when deciding what to use.
Options include business website, social media, blogging, newsletter and flyers, social media events, printed advertising, oral speaking, cold calling and book dropping.
Set your goals and your budget
Marketing goals will help you define what you want to achieve with your marketing activities. Your goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely.
You will also need to allocate a budget for your marketing activities. Your marketing budget will need to include things like:
website development and maintenance
search engine optimization strategy
the design of the branding
printing of advertising materials (business cards, brochures, symbols, etc.)
advertising
donations and support
staff are hired to do marketing activities.
TIP: As a general rule of thumb you should spend between three and five percent of your actual or expected sales revenue. If your business is new you may need to invest a lot in the beginning to build your business profile.
Learn more about setting up a marketing plan.
Grow your loyal customers
Your customers are the key to your success so it is important that you take care of them and promote trust. Providing different customers can keep people coming back and separate you from your competitors.
Strategies to build customer loyalty include:
regular communication with customers through social media, blogs or e-news
to provide after sale
to fulfill your promises
traveling the 'extra mile' and providing benefits beyond expectations
use feedback and complaints as an opportunity to improve services
listening to customers
to train staff in customer service and basic marketing processes.
Monitoring and review
It is important to regularly monitor and review your marketing activities to find out if they are achieving the results you want, such as increased sales. Initially you should review your marketing plan every three months to make sure your activities support your strategy. Once your business is stable update your plan when you introduce a new product or service, when a competitor enters the market or if a problem arises that affects your industry.
Monitoring activities may include updating your sales figures (monthly) or monitoring customer activity during an advertising campaign. You can also access and update free analytics tools to determine the effectiveness of your social media or website campaigns.
Learn more about digital marketing.
0 Comments