| |
| |
|
Marketing Resource Center |
|
|
|
A Common - Yet Easily Avoidable - Marketing Mistake
December is a month in which many organizations make plans for the coming year. Now is a great time for you to look at your marketing systems for attracting and retaining customers. Although front end systems such as advertising, public relations, press releases, direct mail, sales letters and promotional items are important, equally as important as what you and your staff do after you gain new customers. It never ceases to amaze me how companies will invest money in campaigns to gain new customers yet have no system to build and maintain those relationships they were so eager to attract in the first place. Having a system in place to keep your name in front of existing and potential clients is a very important part of a great marketing campaign. Additionally, having programs in place that make it easy for people to do business with you is essential to the health of your bottom line. Any company that depends on repeat business absolutely must have a good customer retention system in place in order to thrive in today's competitive environment. Time and again I have seen this as the primary area of businesses where companies don't succeed at the level they are capable of - especially in small businesses. The thinking with many people is, "If they want my services, they know where to find me." While a potential customer is looking for you, your competition's marketing systems may find them first! As an example, a pet store offering grooming services could increase revenues by having a reminder system in place to notify the customer when their dog is due for grooming or to let them know when a new product arrives. They may also consider using a punch card that gives the customer a free grooming service after a predetermined amount of visits have been made. Many pet owners view their animals as family members and will be more likely to do business with you when they believe you care about their pets just as much as they do. What would your profit margin be if you were able to turn the occasional customer into a frequent customer? Customers who regularly visit your business would also be more likely to refer you to their friends and associates. Remember that frequency is determined by your particular industry or service. A grocery store may consider twice-weekly visits a good frequency, whereas a dry cleaner may only be monthly. Changing customers from being a one or two item purchaser to purchasing several products can increase your bottom line tremendously. With a bit of vision and creativity, one basic service can open several opportunities. Most businesses can take their basic product or service and expand into other offerings. What are your current offerings? Are there other products and services you could develop that are consistent with your market and your company vision? This is where you can create an incredible backend list of possibilities. Once you think about other offerings, what are some new avenues you could open? Is it possible to partner with other companies where you could offer each other's products and services? Here are some possibilities: Car dealerships offering a year's worth of car washes or oil changes at a discount Hair salons who sell facials or nail services Pet shops selling grooming services Restaurants who provide recipe books Chiropractors and Massage Therapists who promote their services As you plan for the coming year, include methods for keeping in touch, developing a list of companies you can partner with and increasing strategies for gaining and maintaining top-of-the-mind awareness for your customers. Marketing is about timing. Just because you contact a client today does not mean they are in the market to buy today. However, if you keep in regular contact with them, when they are ready to purchase, there is a good chance you will be the one they call. Today's customers are busy. New choices are thrown at them every day. Keep your name on the top of their list by consistently reminding them of their great experiences with your company. Great marketing systems will help you gain and retain customers. Email: Kathleen@turningpointpresents.com Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your website or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required. Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage's FR*EE Report "Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea" at http://www.kathleengage.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Marketing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Motivating Shoppers with Online Coupons (Part 2 of 2) Last time we discussed how online coupons and promotion codes can motivate buyers. We discussed examples of coupons and some of the aspects of these offers that can boost sales and generate urgency to a purchase. Marketing Strategy - Whats Your System? Where Do Most of Your Clients Come From?Is it from your marketing and sales system?When I meet people for the first time and they understand that I'm a marketing consultant, I'm frequently asked, "Where do most of your clients come from?" Many times I believe the question is asked innocently enough. But, quite often I feel like the person asking wants to know if I have a magic answer that might work for them. Dont Use Yourself as Your Pricing Yardstick "I wouldn't pay more than what I charge now."If you are not a member of your target market, toss this thought about your own preferences out the window this very minute. The Real Marketing Genius I spend a lot of my time reading books and listening to tapes about business and marketing. I guess that's understandable. Five Tips for Trade Show Success on a Small Budget No matter how small your marketing budget, your business can afford to have a successful presence at trade shows without incurring big expenses. Here are five tips for exhibiting in trade shows inexpensively:1) Have a sales representative exhibit your line at a trade show. Getting Ideas for Your Postcards If you're going to do postcard marketing on an ongoing basis, it's a good idea to have a collection of cards to inspire you. In advertising and marketing circles, this is called a "swipe file. Features and Benefits Brainstorming This is it what I use BEFORE I begin to write any marketing copy or launch any new product or service. You can complete this with the by-hand method listed here or use the form that I've created (available in the FORMS section of our web site, http://www. Five Mistakes Absolutely Guaranteed to Drive Away Your Best Clients We all work hard to attract even one paying client. In fact, we work hard to attract serious inquiries. Marketing is More Important Than Expertise Being a master of your craft, skill, or talent doesn't ensure the success of your business. You can be the greatest at what you do, and if nobody knows about you, you're quickly out of business. The Top 10 Marketing Tools to Grow Your Business in 2004 Looking to grow your business? Make sure you have these marketing tools in place:#10 A powerful taglineIn 10 words or less, a good tagline reinforces a company's reason for being. And smaller companies will find it to be one of the hardest working tools. Top 5 Kick Butt Marketing Requirements Cinch your success with 8-second leaders! Step into the saddle and ride to the buzzer - but first, get outfitted for success. Some things are necessary to have on hand in order to be prepared for coming out of the chute. How to Use Flyers to Increase Your Business What benefits will you get from flyers?Flyers are much different from postcards in that they convey product sales to the consumer. Safeway, Costco, Albertsons and other grocery chains are excellent at putting out flyers. Judge Rules in Consultant's Favor with 80-20 Rule I opened the registered letter and was shocked. My best clients were joining together in a class-action suit against me. Viral Marketing with a Powerful Twist What would you do with 500, 1000 or more additional visitors each day? Imagine how your web business will grow with an extra 2000, 5000 or MORE leads each month . . Direct Marketing Puts Information In The Buyer's Hands Direct marketing is advertising from a manufacturer or front-end supplier directed to the ultimate consumer of a product or service. Another way of looking at direct marketing is selling to a consumer directly, whether is from a printed magazine campaign, TV or radio spot, or from a direct mail package. Successful Non-for-Profit Fundraising Letters Share Eight Qualities You'll be encouraged to know that the art of writing effective fundraising letters can be learned. I learned it. Benefits of Developing & Maintaining a Database A database is more than a simple list of names and addresses. What turns a list into a database is the additional information, coupled with your ability to select names from or report on the list using any combination of data elements. Profitable Marketing Programs (Part 1) Deciding whether a particular marketing program is profitable to your business is often more subjective than the accountants would have you believe. You should not only consider the direct revenue and costs associated with a marketing program, but you should also think about the long term impact on your business. Using Purchased Leads A little advice about using leads that you purchase from another source;These are not opt-in leads per-say, that you have gathered using lead capture pages.They might join your list, but initially this is a whole different animal. Advertising Your Private Practice: 6 Tips for Maximizing Your Results-Part 2 As discussed in part 1 of this article, "Your Private Practice: Beware of the Problems," I usually don't recommend advertising as a main method of marketing a practice for new coaches, counselors and healing professionals. There are often more cost-effective ways to get the word out and attract clients.
|
| home | site map | Advertising Articles |
| © 2006 |
