subject: Develop A Small Business Marketing Strategy That Works [print this page] Every business needs to develop a marketing strategy in order to begin an effective marketing campaign. If you are a small business owner and have started to create your small business marketing strategy yourself, you may find it a bit more difficult than you had previously planned.
There are some important components of every good marketing strategy; a set of crucial areas which should always be addressed to be sure you have covered all the aspects of your marketing plan. Here are some tips to help you develop an effective small business marketing strategy.
Identify Your Unique Selling Points
Look for the primary selling points of your goods or services and how they compare to your competition. Even if the products on the surface seem very similar, selling great customer service or discounted overnight delivery can help to set you apart from someone else. Create an extensive list of these selling points and extract as much selling power out of each of them as you can.
Know Your Market, Thoroughly
Knowing your market involves a lot more than just knowing who you want to buy your product. There are certain areas where you can look to also seek out customers you may not know are looking for your product.
One of the most effective ways to learn more about your market is by tracking where people are looking for your product or what terms they are using to find it. Keyword research is highly effective is uncovering markets which may have otherwise been missed. Conducting extensive keyword research alone can mean the difference between an effective campaign and a costly disaster. Dont overlook the value of this component in your small business marketing strategy.
Know the Marketing Techniques You Plan to Utilize
Will you utilize print advertising or direct mail? Perhaps video will work best or maybe social marketing. Whichever the case, it is important to define the methods you will use and then take the time to understand how each of those methods will work most effectively. If you do not fully understand the value or downsides to each technique, you could easy overspend on unneeded techniques or leave money on the table by not using the most effective one for your business type.
Market Data Analysis
It is import to conduct market research as part of your strategy. This will help you identify consumer buying habits for a particular product or niche market and may lend insight to a previously uncovered market as well. Market data can also help to identify price points and viability in the market.
There are several places to locate market data and a good marketing consultant can be a wealth of information in this area. It may very well be worth the cost of hiring such a consultant to help locate and understand market data. They can also let you know what works where and when based on experiences they have had with other clients. This information alone is well worth the price and can save you a lot of money in the end.
Time and Budget
An obvious, but often overlooked piece of the marketing strategy is the time and money it will take. Creating a budget for both time and dollars will ensure you will create the most effective strategy which will be affordable and allow you time to also run the other areas of your business. Marketing is one of the most challenging areas for small business owners, since it does require them to take time away from their day-to-day operations and give that time to marketing their products or services.
In cases where you may not have the time to do this yourself, it is best to consult with a Marketing Firm which specializes in small businesses. They can help alleviate the burden of these time consuming tasks and keep you within budget at the same time. Many marketing firms now cater exclusively to the small business owner and have developed strategic plans for other business owners facing the same challenges you do. They will be able to help prepare a effective plan that is within your budget.
When you feel it is time to start your small business marketing strategy, be sure not to overlook these crucial areas, otherwise, you will only find yourself spinning your wheels and spending money with no real return on investment. It is best to plan ahead and consider all areas before you start your advertising campaign.
by: Rolando Valdes
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