Not a rocket scientist? No problem, you can still be a good marketer. But, unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Every business is different. The marketing plan for a small bank is entirely different from one for a beauty salon. But-building a plan, sticking to it and putting in the time and resources it takes is what’s going to make you a marketing genius.
Here are some suggestions for making you a rocket scientist in marketing:
· Learn how to do it. Remember, knowing what not to do is just as important as what to do. Marketing is a tricky world, so learn what you’re doing before you jump in.
· Customers always come first. Know who these important folks are, what they like, what they want and what they need. And stay in touch with them long after the sale, because you want them to come back.
· Know your target market like the back of your hand. Just because they can fog up a mirror doesn’t qualify them as a target prospect! You need to be sure that your marketing efforts are focused directly on people who need and want your product or service. That’s the secret to getting those wallets opened.
· Remember, marketing is not advertising. Advertising and websites aren’t the only ways to attract business. There are literally hundreds of ways to market your business, so it pays to know which will work and which won’t and eliminate the losers and the ones you can’t afford right up front.
· Define your sales goals and targets. Marketing is a numbers game. If a marketing activity won’t bring in the numbers to reach your goals, it’s a waste of your money. So be sure you know your goals for income, expenses, profit, needed inquires and sales.
· Ever heard of the four Ps of marketing? Getting your product, pricing, placement strategy (distribution) and promotional strategy humming along and working together is crucial to good marketing.
Essential Tools for Good Business Marketing
If you have all of the marketing essentials together, you can’t help but attract customers and get new business. So get it all together into your marketing toolbox so that you’re prepared at all times.
Here are a few items to pack into that toolkit:
· A marketing plan and a budget: Put together a strong plan that will work for you for years to come. It doesn’t have to be a thesis, but be sure you have it written down. Communicate this plan to your team and act on it EVERY day, even when business is great.
· A superior product or service: You can do all the advertising in the world, but if your product or service isn’t something your market wants, values or loves, all of that advertising will just go down the drain. So do your research and listen to those customers before you launch into the market.
· A professional brand: A brand is a whole lot more than just a logo. It’s everything that you do in running your business. Everything your customer sees, touches, feels and thinks about your business goes into determining your brand. It’s vitally important that you invest in the development of your brand so that it stands out from the crowd and promises a strong Value Proposition for your digital marketing war.
· Value Proposition: A Value Proposition is a statement that positions you against your competition in the market and outlines why customers should do business with you instead of any of your competitors. Tell your customers how they will benefit by doing business with you. Everything you do to market your business will revolve around your Value Proposition.