10 Powerful marketing tips every owner should know

1.Identify your Target Market!

Common Mistakes: Businesses make the common mistake of trying to market to everywhere to everyone. 87% of customers come from a 5 mile radius for the majority of businesses. Sending your message out to everywhere you can result in a of waste resources. Marketing to everyone can be very ineffective, even though everyone may be able to use your product or service not everyone is in that market that is ready to buy. Developing the wrong message to wrong market typically results in a poor return on investment.

Benefits: A&B offers marketing research/customer profiling to find your target market and the best way to market to them. One way you can get a general idea of who your target market would be is by looking at the people who currently buy your products. What are your customer’s average age, gender, income, household size, and ethnicity? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you develop the perfect marketing message to get the response you’re looking for.

2.Print your best AD on a postcard and mail or hand it out it to your targeted market.

Common Mistakes: Businesses make the common mistake of not contacting there potential customers enough in enough areas. On average a potential customer will need to see your marketing message 3 to 5 times before they decide to contact you. One of many ways to get your message to the desired people is to print your ad on a post card and direct mail it your target market. Post cards are very cost effective however many businesses make the mistake of making the message to wordy to the ad to busy. People read postcards when the message is brief. A direct simple ad on a postcard can drive a high volume of traffic to your web site and generate a flood of sales leads for a very small cost. Direct Mail has a fixed expense, with a reliable and consistent return. A&B does more than just offer the lowest printing cost…we have the most successful marketing people in Kalamazoo to help design a strong piece for your business.

3.Business Cards distribute themselves, utilize this free advertising.

Many owners like to try and save money by not printing on the back of their business cards and are very hesitant on making business cards for every employee. All business cards are intended to be distributed, empowering your employees, even entry level associates with personalized business cards ensures they will be distributed to their friends, family and acquaintances. Utilize this by having a strong promotion or ad on the back of your business cards with an even stronger “call to action”. Printing on the backside of business cards literally only costs fractions of a cent per piece and will pay off in the long run. At A&B we do not even charge extra like most printing companies to print on the backside. If your paying for it, make it work for you.

4.Use a buddy marketing system (B to B) to promote your business.

Business owners sometimes forget their most powerful asset. Themselves, spend time every day or every week to network with other business in community. Knowing only a handful of people is fine but you’re missing out some golden opportunities for cooperative marketing. Knowing a lot business owners allows you to get your message out and potentially work with businesses that have a similar target market as you. For example, if one of your networking friends sends out brochures, you could have them include a leaflet and/or business card of your business, and do the same in return for them. This gives you the chance to reach a whole new pool of potential customers. A&B has a large, local network of clients from a variety of non-competing industries. Get on the bus…

5.Answer Your Phone Differently.

Using an automated system or a generic greeting is fine is your large business with satisfied customers coming in your doors daily. However being a small business means people expect to talk to another real person when they call. Using a generic greeting means you’re missing an opportunity to inform your potential client about a promotion your running or a new product. Try announcing a special offer when you answer the phone. For example you could say, "Good morning, this is Ann Marie with Puppies & More; ask me about my special marketing offer." The caller is compelled to ask about the offer. Sure, many companies have recorded messages that play when you're tied up in a queue, but what business do you know really take advantage of this time to upsell? I certainly haven't heard of many. Make sure your offer is aggressive and increase your caller's urgency by including a not-so-distant expiration date. A&B can implement a consistent and measurable improvement in customer satisfaction and closing rates with a little bit of extra training we provide to your staff.

6.Stick It!

A lot of owners don’t take advantage of many of the day to day material they send out to people. You can use these materials as miniature bill boards. Use stickers, stamps and handwritten notes on all of your day-to-day business mail, products, and direct mail. Remember, when you put a sticker or handwritten message on the outside of an envelope, it has the impact of a miniature billboard. People read it first; however, the message should be short and concise so it can be read in less than 10 seconds. Let A&B show you how to design a strong & clear message and help your get in front of your demographic.

7.Send A Second Offer To Your Customers Immediately After They've Purchased

When a customer just purchased a product form you most of the time there is something else there in need of however they may have forgotten to place the order at that particular time or are waiting for the right time. If a customer is stratified with their first order they will come back again but you can make this process happen faster. Your customer just purchased a sweater from your clothing shop. Send a handwritten note to your customer thanking them for their business and informing them that upon their return with "this note" they may take advantage of a private offer, such as 20% off their next purchase. To create urgency, remember to include an expiration date.

8.Newsletters

Did you know it costs six times more to make a sale to a new customer than to an existing one? Owners forget that maintaining a strong relationship with your current and past customers is an important way to grow your business naturally. You can use newsletters to focus your marketing on past customers. Keep costs down by sacrificing frequency and high production values. If printed newsletters are too expensive, consider an e-mail newsletter sent to people who subscribe at your Web site. A&B has successfully created follow up campaigns, Rehash and Data Mining programs.

9.Seminars/ open house

Hosting an event is a great way to gain face time with key customers and prospects as well as get your company name circulating. With the right programming, you'll be rewarded with a nice turnout and media coverage. More importantly, if you have satisfied customers, use them, show them off and benefit again and again. If it's a seminar, limit the attendance and charge a fee. A fee gives the impression of value. Free often connotes, whether intended or not, that attendees will have to endure a sales pitch.
Consider 501 parties, wine and cheese events, or co-sponsoring already occurring community events.

10.Bartering

This is an excellent tool to promote your business and get others to use your product and services. You can trade your product for advertising space or for another company's product or service. This is especially helpful when two companies on limited budgets can exchange their services. Utilize the large, local and diversified A&B small business network to your benefit.


Link: http://kzoomarketing.com/Article-Libary.html