On a search for information about local events, I found website after website that hadn't been updated since 2010 or earlier. My frustration mounted with each useless result, especially since I knew the businesses and organizations in question were still operating. But clearly they had no pride, no commitment to their customers or clients and no realization of what it means to let a...
Go Tell it to the Mountains
Submitted by Annie Card Creative Services on Tue 12/21/10 1:01 pm
We’ve been here forever-- everyone knows us. I don’t believe in advertising. Word of mouth has always worked for us. I ran five ads last year and got nothing.
Sound familiar? If business isn’t as peppy as you’d like it to be, it’s time to rethink your marketing strategy. First you must understand who your customers are. You might think you know your audience, but in fact you may be missing an opportunity because you’re stuck thinking the same old way.
Check with your Chamber of Commerce. They may have free resources for you or be able to refer you to a professional. Talk to other business owners to learn what’s working for them. Attend a marketing workshop. Brainstorm with family and friends. After all, everyone shops, eats out or buys something they want or need almost every day. Why did they choose one store over another? .jpg)
Talk to your customers. How did they hear about you? Tell them you appreciate their business. Sales are increased and repeat business captured by the simple but often missed opportunity of great customer service. Make your customers feel valued. Given a choice, we return to the store or restaurant that made us feel special. And we send our friends.
Pay attention to what your competition is doing to capture sales. How can you distinguish yourself from them, or is there an opportunity for you to collaborate?
Once you know your audience, how do you reach them? Like a good investment portfolio, you want to diversify. Reach out to your local or regional radio, newspaper and business magazine advertising departments. See what audience they can reach and what that costs. Ask for some recent success stories.
Advertising success depends on frequency and impressions. Not everyone needs your goods or services every day. But when they do, you want them to come to you. McDonald’s didn’t stop advertising once they served one million or 100 million. They’ve served billions, and still they advertise.
Consider all these marketing tools: from FREE to FEE. I’ve listed them in that order.
-Facebook, Twitter...
-Press Releases
-e-Newsletters
-email blasts
-Brochures
-Website
-Blog
-Business cards
-Direct mail
-Tradeshows
-Promotional products with your name on them (pens, bags, etc.)
-Networking: BNI, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, etc.
-Sponsor a local Little League team or community event
-Newspaper, radio, television, magazine advertisement
Annie Card Creative Services helps businesses of all sizes create marketing plans that work. Tell us what’s working for you. What’s not?
-Annie