By planning your marketing you can put more quality into it and get better results out of it.

Here is an easy yet effective four-step method to plan your marketing so you can see better results and more profits for your business.

1. Understand your strengths

Why do people buy from you? What do you really do for your customers? How are you better than your competition? What special skills or advantages do you have?

These are your competitive advantages. They are what make you stand out from your competition. They may be related to price, location, professional skills, attitude, responsiveness or your own personality.

People buy from you because you do something for them no one else does. Understand this and you’ve taken first step to better marketing and more profits.

2. Identify your customers (your target market)

To promote your business you must focus on people who value what you do. Your strengths (or competitive advantages) will help you focus on who will most value your service or product.

For example: if your location is a strength then your customers will reflect your location. If high quality is a strength then your customers should appreciate quality.

Look at your current customers to get an idea of who your target market is. Or, look at your profit margins to decide which type of customers to focus on. You might have several target markets because you have several products or services and a variety of strengths.

Bottom line: focus on people who will place a HIGH VALUE on what you can do for them. These people will be your most loyal and profitable customers.

3. Create a meaningful message

The key in successful marketing is to deliver right message to right people as often as your budget will allow. So, you need a message that tells your target market why they should do business with you.

Your message should reflect your strengths – because those are what you do best. And, your message should be in terms that your target market is interested in. In other words speak in their language and say what they want to hear.

Example:

So, don't sell. Meet and greet. Ask people about their businesses. Be friendly and relaxed. Enjoy yourself. Get to know people. If and when someone appears to meet your target criteria, ask for their business card. Then follow up with them later to see if there might be a fit.

Here are some ideas to help you get most from your time spent networking:

1. Set a time budget each week or month for your networking. Plan to attend a specific number of meetings or events at which you can network. Make sure your other tasks and responsibilities fit around these meetings. It's best to balance networking with your other lead generating activities. This way you can measure value of your networking leads against time spent acquiring them.

2. Pick networking oportunities that put you face to face with people most likely to need what you offer. Or try to meet people who can connect you with people who need what you offer. Both are good prospects.

3. Understand why you're there - to begin relationships - not to sell. Networking is first step in a long dance. Don't rush.

4. Don't give your cards to everyone. Save your money and some trees. Only hand out your card to people who ask for it.