| |
| |
|
Marketing Information |
|
|
|
Does Your Marketing Pass This 10-Point Test?
Good marketing, whatever form it takes, always meets certain criteria. That's what makes it good. The following 10-Point checklist will help you determine if your marketing passes the test. I challenge you to evaluate one of your recent ads, promotions or other marketing activities to see how it measures up. 1) Does it focus on the solution or benefit you provide? Too often ads simply list product or service features. Don't make your prospects work that hard to figure out how your product or service can help them. Tell them straight out. 2) Does it have one, clear message? What's the ONE message you want to communicate? Make sure it's not buried in too much information or it may not get across. 3) Is it focused on one, specific group of prospects? Do you know who you are talking (and marketing) to? Make sure your marketing is targeted at one, specific group of prospects - it's the only way to make sure you are addressing their needs. 4) Is it written in language these prospects can relate to? If you want your message to resonate with your prospects, make sure it speaks to them, both in content and in the tone and language you use. 5) Does it feature your Unique Selling Proposition? This is the ONE thing that sets you apart from every other product or service your prospect could possible buy to fulfill the same need. It's what's unique, different and valuable about your product or service. It better come across loud and clear in everything you do. 6) Does it have one, compelling point of focus? Ever see an ad with so many things in it you didn't know where to look first? Your prospects won't know either if you try to cram too much into your ads or promotional materials. 7) Does it accurately communicate your business personality? Yes, your business has a personality and everything you do should reflect it. You want your prospects to feel like they "know" you. If you change your personality every week, they won't come to know and trust you. And consumer buy from those they know and trust. 8) Does it give prospects more than one reason to respond? Not everyone is ready to buy, or take the one, primary action you want them to take when they see your ad. Make sure you give them another reason to respond, or they are simply a lost lead. 9) Does it give prospects more than one way to respond? Make it easy and convenient for prospects to take action. What if you only offer an email or web site address and someone doesn't have computer access, or they're away from their office but they want more information right now? You've lost them. Don't let this happen to you. 10) Do you have a specific objective for the marketing? If you don't know what your marketing is designed to achieve, then how will you know if it was successful? Always have a plan and an objective for everything you do. That way you can design it to work and measure whether or not it did. © Copyright 2005 Debbie LaChusa 20-year marketing veteran, consultant, author, teacher and coach Debbie LaChusa has developed The 10stepmarketing System to help small business owners successfully market their business, themselves. To learn more about this simple, step-by-step program and to sign up for her FREE audio class and FREE weekly ezine featuring how-to articles, tips and advice, visit http://www.10stepmarketing.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Your Ideal Client A lot of small businesses make the mistake of thinking that their product or service is good for just about anyone. The logic is "why should I limit my market to a smaller segment of the whole and sacrifice a sale. Small Business Marketing Tip - Focus on a Niche or Target Market I think selling and marketing today often feels a bit like talking to a brick wall and that in interesting metaphor to help grasp the importance of niche marketing especially when it comes to small business marketing. Imagine for a moment that you are attacking that brick wall with a hammer, randomly hitting it everywhere. What Are People Buying Online? Benefits, that's what!Whether you're selling in print or in person, it's a universal truth.And success in both worlds requires a counterintuitive approach. How Do I Define My Market? Your market is who you want to reach. Your customer. People Do Business with People They Like People do business with people they know and like! In my networking classes I have been saying this for six years. Can't say I was the originator of it, yet it appears people are catching on. 50 Benefits Of Joint Venture Marketing What Is A Joint Venture?A joint venture is an agreement in which two or more businesses work on a project for a set period of time.Joint ventures can be long-term, like promoting a product together, or some can be short-term, like bartering (trading) products and services. Trade Show Promotional Products - Boosting Booth Traffic I was about seven or eight years old when I learned the value of promotional items at trade shows. I just didn't know it yet. Arts Marketing : Suggestions for Students and Beginners Many artists create art but when it comes to marketing and selling their work, well, that is another story. It may seem daunting at first but artists can do marketing easily if they just think logically and commit time to the effort. How to Pick a Winning Business Name What's in a name?Think of your business name as an external mask for your business. If it's something your target audience like, they would consider checking it, if they don't, in most cases you have lost a customer even before you could tell them what your product or service is. Tackle a Newsletter and Come Out On Top Unlike any other marketing vehicle, newsletters give you the opportunity to contact your audience and convey your expertise in a way that offers value and information. Newsletters provide a reason -- and a structure -- to maintain ongoing contact. Ten Ways to Market Your Business by Doing What You Love To Do Most business owners get so involved in the work of the business that there never seems to be enough time to do the necessary marketing. Even when business is good the owner must continue marketing because if he/she stops, the business eventually will stop too. Why Most Marketing Videos Dont Work Every now and then I will meet someone who has commissioned a marketing video that did not work for their company. It is a sad state of affairs and it is avoidable. Fundraising Letters Should Raise Donors, Not Donations, When Mailed to Strangers Are you willing to spend $1.25 to raise $1? To lose money to make money? You should be. Postcard Direct Mail Marketing Works (Its Cheap, Quick, Affordable and More) Used the right way and with the right audience, postcards often outperform their mailbox "competitors" in money saved and revenue generated (the competitors are sales letters, self-mailers, unaddressed flyers, dimensional mailers and catalogs). Here's why postcards are so effective. How to Put the Profit Producing Power of Couponing to Work for You Coupons have proven themselves to be highly effective sales tools for every conceivable size and type of business.Because coupons "pull in the business" they have gained remarkable acceptance and popularity among astute marketing managers. Give me a Referral any Day - the Power of Networking I nearly panicked recently! Well, maybe a slight exaggeration but here was a situation I had not been in for some time. The freezer had broken down and the dilemma I faced was - a speedy solution was necessary BUT I did not know anybody who repairs freezers. Want to Increase Your Business? First You Need to Understand where You are at! Are you having trouble understanding basic situational marekting concepts? Then this article is for you.Alex Margarit shows you a simple step by step way on how to put together a basic situational analysis. 20 Power Marketing Tips Use these powerful yet simple tips from the national best-seller, "Secrets of Power Marketing: Promote Brand You" - the first guide to personal marketing for non-marketers.Create and grant an annual award. To Swag or Not to Swag: Tip to Brand Your Tchotchkes on a Shoestring It's interesting to see how resourceful people become when starting their own business. Especially when budget is tight, creative juices go into high gear. 25 Ways To Get More Business Special Requirements for Reprint: we ask only that you include Pauls name and resource box, and keep all hyperlinks as live links. Complete Article with Resource Box at end: Need more business? Who doesnt? Thankfully, new business is pretty easy to get, but you do have to do something to get it.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
