|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
Using hit and miss strategies in your business?
| Guest post by: Mandie Crawford |
Article Overview: Marketing is not a hit and miss strategy – it is 24/7/365. Surprised? Don’t be! Too many businesses don’t have good marketing strategies to begin with – so how can they market 24/7? I have seen it over and over, small business owners buy marketing on a hit and miss basis. They see a sale on newspaper ads, or the local radio station calls and offers them a deal that they cannot refuse.
 |
Free Download - Five things you can (right now) do to increase your sales and get you out of that rut! By Mandie Crawford |
Using hit and miss strategies in your business?
Marketing is not a hit and miss strategy – it is 24/7/365. Surprised? Don’t be! Too many businesses don’t have good marketing strategies to begin with – so how can they market 24/7?
I have seen it over and over, small business owners buy marketing on a hit and miss basis. They see a sale on newspaper ads, or the local radio station calls and offers them a deal that they cannot refuse.
So for 2 weeks, or 2 months, a business advertises – likely with a poorly written ad that looks pretty and then cancel the advertising because it was not effective.
Who gets blamed in all of this? The marketing expert. People say – marketing does not work – but have no substantial statistics to prove it.
When your advertising efforts are ‘hit and miss’ there is no way to truly measure the efforts – or to tweak it to become more effective.
So what do you need to do to make sure that your marketing is effective?
Know your market:
WHO really buys your product? (Not who ooo’s and aaaah’s over it – who buys it?)
Where do they live?
What do they drive?
Where do they go?
Do they have time to read the paper?
Do they surf the internet?
Do they read community news?
These are only some of the questions that need to be asked before you spend a dime on any kind of marketing.
Determine a budget
If you expect to sell something – you will need to let the right people know why they need to buy it. Good ‘copy’ is essential. Otherwise you are simply putting a pretty picture in front of people and fail to give them a reason to read it or to DO something after they read it. What will you spend your money on?
Research to identify where to advertise
Make sure you have good copy
Find effective ad space
Create an ongoing program
Be Patient, Measure and Tweak
Measure everything.
Find out what is working and build on that. Get rid of advertising that has a poor ROI. In other words if you busy an ad that costs $400 and no one calls – consider how you can better get some inquiries for the same amount.
A newsletter that gets sent to a current data base might cost the same amount for full design and mailing for a full year. This means you have 12 – 24 opportunities to get in front of your audience instead of once.
If you are featured on the internet for less than $20 a month or can buy an ad linked to your website for less than $400 a year – you are way ahead of the game compared to one or two ads in a magazine of newspaper costing you the same or more.
Finally though, the real trick to running great marketing campaigns is to recognize - nothing happens over night. Marketing efforts must be consistent and target your market correctly. Remember, Marketing is a 24 hour 7 day a week task. Finding better marketing strategies is a great idea. But getting rid of marketing all together is not a wise decision.
If you don't know where to start - invest in good advice. . There is no better time than now. You have the time - and need the help.
Marketing requires a strategy, a budget and commitment. Even if you start with $50 a month, you will be farther ahead than if you use a hit and miss strategy.
Look for 24/7/365 opportunities that cost you less than a cup of coffee a day. This will give your business a bigger boost than that java fix – that lasts only 30 minutes!
Begin expanding your network and build quality relationships by attending a meeting or a webinar!
Payment Protection Insurance
Why Your Sales Approach Should Aim Small, Miss Small
How to Achieve Success When You Miss an Opportunity
Showing Appreciation - Learning From Watching Your Team
On Page SEO Basics: How to do Internal Site Optimization Even if You are Beginner?
Are You a Master of Your Moments?
The Holidays are a Great Metaphor for Sales Success
Living The Life You Have
Reason Number 11 You Can’t Sell Insurance
Rosie
Evolve Your Strategic Mindset
Pay Per Click Strategies: Hot Tips For a Firm Foundation!
You Can Have It All....Just Not All At Once!
How to sell your business in a down economy!
Masterful Reprimands – The Best Sales Management Training
Online Website Promotion Strategies For Your Online Business
Who Are You Talking To?
Build Your P&L to Increase Sales
The Two Best Ways to Keep the Sales You Make
Is Your Timing Keeping You From Being Successful In Your Business? Part 1
Article Tags: marketing, mazrketing strategy, strategic marketing
|
About the Author: Mandie Crawford RSS for Mandie's articles - Visit Mandie's website Mandie also has skills and expertise in providing high quality guidance in time management and system implementation for small a medium sized businesses. Her passion as a business and professional development coach is to helps women recognize their value and self worth. She is the President of Roaring Women Ltd which is Canada's premier national business support group for women in business that focuses on connecting, promoting and educating women in business. In her goal to encourage and educate women in building business across the country, she launched and completed a 6 week coaching tour in partnership with Staple Business Depot in 2008 where she coached over 600 women in business. Mandie is mother to four children and 3 stepchildren and one highly energetic chocolate lab! Ms Crawford is also a former award winning police officer with Halton Regional Police. Click here to visit Mandie's website   Keeping your priorities Straight Law of Attraction what are you asking for Attract Success with Integrity Its all in a name Brand you Becoming a Respector of time |
Related Forum Posts
Re: Your weapon for success
- Yes this is a great list to success , My plan is always to provide service to customers, give ideas, market my business, coming up with more strategies to improve the business, expanding business, developing new marketing strategies, searching new market place for business etc. Following such things will really help you to succeed.
How Many Hours A Week Do You Watch TV?
- About a year ago or so, I completely cut off my cable TV.
Food Network was the only channel I miss but I really don't miss it more than I expected. News, Sports, you know, the stuff you thought be hard to miss out on, I never realized how unimportant they could be and my "selective ignorance" really hasn't hurt my life.
If I want news, I could always turn on to the Internet.
How about you?
Warmest Regards,
Takuya
Re: Poll: Which would you live without? TV or Internet?
- Hi Evan,
I have to admit that I do enjoy TV but mostly for sport or educational programs. However, I can honestly say that since I went on the Internet, it has changed my life forever like it has for everyone around the world.
When I say it has changed my life, I don't mean it in a soppy way but just in everyday things like research, booking a holiday, shopping, renewing tax or driving license etc, all of which you can do online and that is before my Internet activities. Therefore I have to say in answer to the question, I would miss the TV but I would miss the Internet much more.
regards,
Mal.
Re: How long can you stay away from your Computer?
- Hi there,
As I have decided to spend a certain amount of time on this forum, I can easily miss some information or title posts. Just like this one, which seemed to have had a great attraction.
If I have to stay away, I can do it. However, I miss the contact with the people and the everyday stories. I am interested in a lot of things.
I really like to be on the computer. I have had pain in my hand, using the mouse and typing. I think it is much better now. Thank God. (Btw, I pray for my health and it makes a difference)
I also think that time can easily be wasted. One can be sidetracked. Also who has not had difficulties, unexpected and unwelcome issues, causing a time wasting problem?
Maybe someone has something else to say.
Re: Starting a business while working a job
- [quote="Evan":2fjndeo6]Hi TheAnonymousMan - it's an online business so it's easy enough to start part time and move it full time. This is actually what I did with my website although I transitioned from one business to another instead of working for someone else.
The biggest challenge is the desire to be working on the company while he's working at his job. Of course you want to work on the exciting business building activities instead of helping someone else make money.[/quote:2fjndeo6]
Hi Evan, an online business is the best idea for sometime who also wants to hold down a full time job. I run a part time business while working full time but miss out on clients who want to see me during business hours and also miss out on potential customer satisfaction for finishing off projects within a week for example.
However in saying this, if I were to work fulltime and increase my prices I doubt I would have as much work and would most likely unsatisfy my clients, as I have clients who are mainly concerned about a low price than an efficient service.
Although an online business can make an owner invisible, I've dealt with eBay Shops that are definitely owned by people who run them part time or casually. Sometimes I won't receive a product for a month or more or even replies to my emails, which indicates poor customer service and someone who doesn't really have the time or motivation to be running an online shop.
As long as your friend realises the importance of exceptional customer service they should attract and retain the best customers.
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: 
Best Automated Forex Trading Strategy
Build Your List with Joint Venture Giveaway Events
May 2012 Top 100 Social Media Experts to Follow on Twitter
What to measure to be phenomenally successful in business
10 mistakes of media relations
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Emotional Energy is Our Engine
International Employment Background Checks
Fighting the Saw-Tooth Affect
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.