by Marketing Dan | 25 Mar 2015 | Marketing Tips
Online Marketing or offline marketing, which should I do? Unless you are a specialist business it is most likely that the question should not be online marketing or offline marketing as you really should be undertaking both online and offline marketing. Often these are viewed as two completely different things, however I always argue the two must be viewed as two parts of the same puzzle and as such you should make sure they are complimenting each other. This will ensure that what your customer sees in one area is reinforced in the other area. There are a number of things you can consider when aligning your online and offline marketing. 1) Make sure that you have consistency. This is as simple as making sure the look of your website and Facebook page is the same as the look of your brochures and business cards, this helps make it easy for your customers to recognise your brand. 2) If you make use of slogans, then make sure they appear on both your online and offline marketing. 3) make sure that all your offline marketing promotes your online presence. Business Cards, brochures, car signage, building signage, even your clothing can all have your web address incorporated into them with very little effort. 4) Target the same customers. If you are running an online campaign such as Pay per click and it is targeted at a certain demographic, then find an offline way to target that same demographic, this will reinforce your brand in their mind. 5) Plan: All marketing should be planned rather than ad hoc (for more information on...
by Marketing Dan | 18 Mar 2015 | Marketing Tips
Network Marketing Network Marketing is traditionally a form of marketing to clients that relies on a persons or a businesses contacts. Think companies such as Tupperware, Herbalife or Amway, where a salesperson holds a party at your house selling to your friends and acquaintances (or your network!!!). Network marketing is an idea that can easily be applied to your business, there are many ways to network your business, Facebook and Linked In are two ways of using online networking, whilst most local business associations have networking meetings if you wish to join them or the local chamber of Commerce will arrange networking events on a regular basis When I think about network marketing for business, I always consider the following questions Is the network of contacts you have working for you?? Will they possibly buy from you? Are they willing to recommend your products and services to others? If you have a networking list that includes people who tick these boxes then your network will be an invaluable asset to your business an alpha networking list. If however your network consists of 100’s of contact details of people you have met, who have no interest in buying your service or product then you have a beta networking list and you should question the value of this network. I believe it is better to have a network of 10 people who will actively promote you than it is to have a network of 200 people who don’t understand what you do. Whilst attending networking meetings such as speed networking meetings may seem a good idea, you should consider that everyone there...
by Marketing Dan | 9 Mar 2015 | Marketing Tips
Marketing Budget Why should I have a marketing budget? This is a question we hear over and again when we are discussing managed marketing with our new and prospective clients. Often we find a number 8 wire attitude towards budgeting for marketing – no real plan but when we find some cash we might throw it at a website or maybe a few leaflets or maybe we could do some radio spots. Another train of thought is “If I budget it I will spend it and it may be unnecessary” which always makes me cringe as this means there is no plan. It can be argued that a well defined plan and associated budget is the most important thing you can do for your company. So how would you go about organising a marketing budget. Marketing Budget Step 1 – Define if you can take the risk You decide to budget $4,000 for a marketing campaign. If you can only afford the $4,000 on the priviso you get 4 new clients you have come up against the marketing dilemma, there is now way of knowing before you spend the $4,000 you will indeed get the 4 new clients, you may get 4 or you may get 14 but if you don’t spend the $4,000 there is no way you can get the new clients. With any marketing campaign there is always a risk of not getting the ROI you are looking for, and ad hoc marketing campaigns started on whims are the most likely to fail. Some business owners have been known to keep on marketing their company in a...
by Marketing Dan | 1 Mar 2015 | Marketing Tips
What is the difference between marketing and sales? This is a question I am often asked by our clients, Marketing I like to say that marketing is all the things you do do to reach your customers and potential customers, Sales is everything you do after contact is made up to the point your client places the order. It stands to reason that the two should work hand in hand with each other, you will often find in large companies there are two different divisions who hardly ever speak to each other, (consider the amount of money certain banks spend on marketing to tell you how friendly they are and how advantageous it would be for you to bank with them, then try ringing same bank to get an answer to your enquiry) So, your marketing and sales, even if it is only you doing it, should be co-ordinated and integrated (as well as sending your potential and existing clients a consistent message). Integrated, basically means the two areas working together, for instance there is not a lot of point in sending a marketing message to potential clients if those same clients cannot get a sales reply when they require it. Your marketing strategies should be measurable and consistent, letting your prospects know why they should deal with you. The sales process is all that happens once the potential is in touch with your company and should reflect the experience you marketing has told the potential they will get. Some studies show that it will often take a number of contacts using both your sales and marketing techniques...
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