10 Powerful Marketing TipsWritten by Ann Marie Rubertone
10 Powerful Marketing Tips Copyright 2004 Ann Marie RubertoneIn a perfect world, you'd have financial resources to execute a winning marketing plan. More likely, though, you're budget-challenged. Perhaps you're a small business with a short supply of marketing dollars. Or your company has limited resources and seemingly unlimited objectives. Whatever reason, one thing's for sure. You're still expected to succeed. What can you do? For starters, stop moaning about your situation and get savvy. Implement low-cost or free marketing efforts that will raise awareness, generate leads and boost sales. Here are 10 designed to do just that. 1. Print your best small ad on a postcard and mail it to prospects in your targeted market. People read postcards when message is brief. A small ad on a postcard can drive a high volume of traffic to your web site and generate a flood of sales leads for a very small cost. 2. No single marketing effort works all time for every business, so rotate several marketing tactics and vary your approach. Your customers tune out after awhile if you toot only one note. Not only that, YOU get bored. Marketing can be fun, so take advantage of thousands of opportunities available for communicating your value to customers. But don't be arbitrary about your selection of a variety of marketing ploys. Plan carefully. Get feedback from customers and adapt your efforts accordingly. 3. Use buddy marketing to promote your business. For example, if you send out brochures, you could include a leaflet and/or business card of another business, which had agreed to do same for you. This gives you chance to reach a whole new pool of potential customers. 4. Answer Your Phone Differently. Try announcing a special offer when you answer phone. For example you could say, "Good morning, this is Ann Marie with Check It Out; ask me about my special marketing offer." The caller is compelled to ask about offer. Sure, many companies have recorded messages that play when you're tied up in a queue, but who do you know that has a live message? I certainly haven't heard of anyone. Make sure your offer is aggressive and increase your caller's urgency by including a not-so-distant expiration date.
| | The Fine Art of Relationship MarketingWritten by Heidi Richards, MS
“Quality and service are important, if you want to make a sale. If you want to keep a customer for life, keep your promises.” – Heidi Richards The buzzword these days is “relationship” marketing. Just what is it? And why is it important? Relationship marketing is so much more than “networking. It’s gathering support of your friends, peers, and business contacts. It’s developing strong, lasting, unique relationships with your most valuable asset, your customer. It’s what keeps people “coming back for more.” It’s an excellent way to shorten traditional routes of building trust, create opportunities, increase valuable contacts, to achieve success and excel in business. Every opportunity you have to meet new people is an opportunity to grow your business! If you are willing to invest your time, networking is a process, and payoffs are almost immeasurable. It’s not realistic to expect instant success. It takes time. You can plan your networking opportunities to shorten time it takes to build those relationships. What do you want and need to accomplish? Do you want to develop lifelong individual customers, land large accounts, or make an impact in your community? You will accomplish all three by getting involved in your local civic organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Business Associations, Non-Profit organizations, etc. One of best ways to get to know people “up close and personal” is to volunteer to serve on a committee; give your time and talent to a cause. People want to do business with people who have similar interests and values.
|