The key to a successful marketing strategy is to target the right audience and use effective marketing platforms. With the right ideas by your side, your business will be able to reach a plethora of people to raise awareness of your brand. But, what are the ‘right’ mediums? Common wisdom dictates that the ‘right’ mediums are the conventional ones like social media and PPC advertising. As a result, lots of companies think these are the only mediums that will help them compete with bigger businesses. The truth is that it is possible to compete against bigger businesses without the help of the tried and tested. In fact, it is possible to compete with marketing strategies that you think are ineffective or out of date. For whatever reason, businesses dismiss marketing ideas out of hand. But, that is a massive mistake because every idea has a part to play even in 2016. If you are unsure, just take a look at the marketing techniques below. These are the ones that you don’t use, but that you should start to consider.
Flyers, Business Cards, Or Anything ‘Old School’
The term ‘old school’ will feature a lot when you talk about your marketing strategy. That is because you assume that marketing is so evolved that they won’t work anymore. As a result, methods like flyers and business cards are replaced with email blasts. Sure, email blasts work, and they work very effectively. Still, that doesn’t mean that they are better than flyers or business cards. For one thing, not everyone uses the internet or has an email account. There are still millions of people that don’t bother with emails because they are part of the older generation. Does that mean they aren’t a member of your customer base? Of course not, but it does mean you are actively cutting off your nose to spite your face. To increase your brand awareness, you need to reach out to these people with methods that they understand. That is where flyers and business cards come into play. For more info, take a look at http://smallbiztrends.com.
Speak In Public
For many people, the thought of speaking to a room full of people will fill them with dread. In fact, it is so frightening that most businesses don’t incorporate the technique whatsoever. But, that is a big mistake. Trying to convince one person after another isn’t going to get you very far because it is a long process. To make waves, you will need to convince a large group of people. When you do that, you have more chance of converting the audience. Because there are more people, your hit rate is likely to be higher. Yes, you won’t convert every single person, but that isn’t the goal. With that in mind, it is time to become an effective orator. First all of all, you need to find a place where you can speak to the right audience. Then, you have to get your message across. To do that, you need to keep it simple and avoid jargon. Plus, you need to provide them with the important details. Why do they want to use your company? What makes you different? Taking up public speaking coaching can help tremendously in your quest to become a master orator.
Trade Show
There is only a small percentage of businesses around the world that use trade shows, and it is baffling. As far as marketing techniques go, there aren’t many that are more effective. When you stop and think, a trade show makes perfect sense. To begin with, the convention is full of people that are willing to listen to your pitch. Also, you can look at your competitors and learn from their package. And, if that isn’t enough, it is one of the cheapest options available. There are a few drawbacks, but they are easy to fix. All you have to do is make sure that you are visually superior. Think of your stall as a fly trap – to lure them in, you need to look pretty. Once they are curious, you are half way to securing their business. With the likes of SteelheadProductions.com and other specialists, it is easy to achieve too. Your job is to tell them what you want to achieve, and their job is to make it happen. As long as you choose wisely, you will reap the benefits at the next show.
Corporate Event
Marketing is all about impressing your customers and clients. And, a corporate event is the best way to hit that goal. Why? It is the best option because it is a free license to go overboard. People expect fireworks, quite literally, and entertainment. They want to have a good time and enjoy a few drinks with their peers. And, in the process, they let down their defenses. By the end of the night, they will judge your business on the show. If it is a good show, they will keep you in mind for the future. However, a lot of businesses don’t take the risk because they think they are too small. Yes, you might assume that your reputation isn’t great enough to host an event? If you do, you are wrong. Any business can host an event regardless of their size. Okay, you will have to tailor the event to suit the size of the company. Still, that doesn’t mean that isn’t an effective tool.
Hire Marketing Interns
The difficult thing about running a successful marketing strategy is keeping up to date with the industry. There is so much to consider that your business might start to suffer from the pressure. What you need is a team of people that can help, yet that doesn’t break the bank. But, where can you find such a team? You can find them at your nearest university. Businesses look upon interns with suspicion, and that is a mistake. Just because they lack the live experience that they need doesn’t mean they can’t help. In fact, they will make a huge difference if you are ready to take the gamble. A good team of interns will take care of everything from writing press releases to conversing with the local media. They are only small tasks, but they do make a difference. And, any competent intern should be able to deal with them without too much fuss. More importantly, it will allow you to focus on the core areas of your marketing plan. With the extra time and money, you can attempt to make your strategy even better. Without the help of your interns, that wouldn’t be possible.
Social Media Story Ads
Social media should be a major part of your marketing strategy, which might make you wonder why it appears in this list. Well, it appears in this list because social media advertising and social media story ads are different. A generic social media ad might be a link to your current marketing campaign. Although it is a good way to reach more people, it is still just a link. A social media story ad, on the other hand, tells a story. It is a lot more relatable and affects the consumer when they watch the ad. The story can be anything that is creative and relates to your business, but it must appear on social media. The reason is twofold. Firstly, social media is a lot cheaper than investing in a TV ad. There is no need for camera equipment and actors because you can do it all remotely. More importantly, though, the traffic is higher on social media. Billions of people watch YouTube or go on Twitter and Facebook every day, and you want a piece of the action. Even if you only get a small percentage, it is still a big number.
Invest In An App
Apps are like hosting events in the sense that companies think they are too small to have one. Again, that is nonsense. An app is available to any business that wants one, and you should take the plunge. For starters, it makes it easier to make a transaction. If you are an ecommerce business, your app will store your customer’s information so they can make a purchase with one click. Also, the app will keep your business fresh in their minds. And, it is a great way to advertise. The App Store or the Play Store gets millions of people visiting them on a daily basis. Just like social media advertising, you only need a small number to notice your app. If all that isn’t enough to convince you, you should know that they are cheap to create.
Ask For Feedback
It is important that you don’t think you are infallible. Yes, you need the confidence to succeed, but you shouldn’t be arrogant. After all, you aren’t the person that you are trying to impress. With that in mind, it is important that you listen to any feedback you can obtain. Feedback from customers and clients is essential because it is an insight into their minds. They are telling you what they want and expect from your marketing strategy. All you need to do then is tweak your strategy to provide them with everything they need.
It sounds silly, but lots of businesses don’t listen to or take notice of their feedback.