| |
| |
|
Marketing Information |
|
|
|
The Six-Step Process That Grows Your Business
1. Examine your clientele and define your ideal client. Of all the customers you've served in the last couple of years, who are the ones you most enjoyed working with and found most profitable? Create a profile of the client characteristics that, for you, define heaven on earth. These characteristics might include income, age, lifestyle, attitudes, motivation, profession, geography, etc. Before going on to step 2, make sure that you've crystallized a single type of client. If you have more than one type, choose one to start with and simply repeat this process later with the other(s). 2. Research the demographics, interests and hangouts of your ideal clients. Delve further into the lives, minds and habits of your ideal clients by interviewing those customers who best typify those you hope to attract. Where do they go on vacation? What do they do in their spare time? What do they read for work? How involved are they with computers and the Internet? What charities and causes do they support? How do they decide who to do/not do business with? 3. Define and differentiate yourself in a way that appeals to ideal clients. Use your research to create an image and pitch for your business that ties into the top concerns of the folks you want to attract. Make certain that you have an answer for the question "Why should I do business with you rather than your competitors?" that will make that group nod appreciatively and want to learn more. Incorporate that image in your web site and all other marketing materials. 4. Create a "bait piece" and offer it free where it's likely to catch the attention of ideal clients. Write an article, white paper, report, tip sheet or practical tool that will be very tempting and appealing to your ideal clients. (E.g., see how I feature the report, "Charge More & Get It!" on this site.) Then offer the bait piece through press releases to the media, at your web site and through lead-generating ads in publications read by your target market. 5. Penetrate the organizations that your ideal clients belong to. Whether that means business organizations, charity groups, reading clubs or a fitness facility, join those groups. Finagle a speaking engagement to the group or volunteer for a committee post. Over time, you become a trusted resource for influential members of those groups if you are active, visible, helpful and patient. Results from this step take time. 6. Publish articles that zero in on your ideal clients' concerns. Identify common questions or problems troubling your ideal clients and write articles for publications reaching them. Do this at least four or five times a year. Together with steps 4 and 5, this soon creates a modicum of fame for you in the circles where you most want people to know you. When new people you meet exclaim that they've heard so much about you, the payoff you've been working toward is gathering momentum and about to flood in. Marcia Yudkin is the author of 6 Steps to Free Publicity and 10 other books. She runs a private member site, MarketingforMore.com, which supports business owners who are growing their businesses. Learn how to avoid the most common pricing mistakes in her free report, "Charge More & Get It," available from http://www.marketingformore.com/survey.htm .
MORE RESOURCES:
Milwaukee Mile back on IndyCar schedule, Andretti-led group to promote June 16 ... - Washington Post
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Basic Marketing Dope Sometimes the simplest data is the best. Marketing is not complex if you know the basics - that's true with anything by the way. Copy SoapNet and Make Money Whether you want to admit it or not, soap operas may hold the key to your home business success. This article includes a few home and small business principles I learned while watching SoapNet. Marketing Person You Think You Arent Have you thought about starting your own business? Have you started one and are having challenges with marketing, fear of failure, fear of success?I could go on and on. Has the question, Now what? ever entered your mind? If so, I would like to share my story with you. Deciphering Marketing Lingo: Whats the Difference between a USP, Single Message and a Tagline? Maybe you've heard these different marketing terms, maybe you haven't. Either way, let me help to clarify the difference between them, because you should have all three if you want to market successfully. Logo Facts What makes one logo better than another?Simplicity.A good logo works in the simplest form. Money-Makers Secrets to Renting Profitable Mailing Lists As an entrepreneur involved in selling and/or promotion ofsomething by Direct Mail, you should already know that mostimportant aspect of your mailing have to do with the sales letteror circular you send out, and the mailing list you use. Withthese thoughts in mind, and assuming you've got what should be anorder-pulling sales letter or circular, let's focus our attentionspecifically on the problem of finding mailing lists that produceprofitable orders. Five Tips to Make Your Marketing More Creative Same old same old just doesn't sell anymore. To make your marketing stand out, you need to get creative. Avoid These 5 Web Site Blunders! The Web is intended to help people find information quickly and easily. So why do so many sites make it difficult for users to get what they need? While neat design can add impact to your message, make sure the message itself doesn't get lost in the mix. Guerilla Marketing Lesson 2: Why Do People Call Me? Before we begin, I want you to think about how many times you actually sought out an advertisement. How did you know where to look for it? Why did you choose that one? Whether you know it or not, the number of times you were exposed to the message has a huge impact on you. Overcoming Resistances To Marketing a Practice-Part 2 In Part 1 of this article, "Resistances to Marketing a Practice" the seven most common resistances helping and healing professionals (counsellors, therapists, naturopaths, homeopathetic doctors, massage therapists, body workers, etc.) have to marketing a practice were identified. Ten Effective Ways to Capture Market 1.Evaluation of Existing Products / Therapies2. Happy Hunting! Before you ever get on the telephone, send a marketing piece or set up an appointment with a potential customer, you must first identify whom that customer might be. To do that, you will need to create an "ideal customer profile"-a profile of who would be the best possible prospect for you and whatever you are selling. Chamber Of Commerce Meetings If you run a small business you should be a member of the local chamber of commerce. Most cities which 50,000 people in them have 5000 small businesses. How to Measure the Benefit Your Product or Service Offers Measuring the benefit of your product or service means putting a specific value on the advantage it offers. For example, it's ineffective to say your light bulbs are brighter and last longer than the competition's. How to Write Irresistible Promotional Pieces that Attract More and Better Clients Whether you're creating a sales letter, a brochure, a newsletter, or any other business promotional piece, you need to write in a way that not only explains your product or service, but that also compels your prospects to contact you. A well-written promotional piece entices people to seek out more information, whether it be via a phone call, an e-mail, or an in-person visit. The Benefits of a Marketing Plan What is a Marketing Plan? Marketing is to do with matching the features and benefits that your products and services are able to provide with specific customers and then telling those customers why they should buy them from you. Your marketing plan details how to do this. Fundraisers - How to Raise Twice the Money With Half the Sweat If your members, parents or donors wear clothes, watch t.v. Universal Principals That Guide Business Growth Universal principals are those "self-evident" truths that have guided brilliant minds and withstood the test of time.Today, however, most of us forget to apply them consistently. Creating Your Future with a Marketing Plan Almost everyone who dreams of starting their own business is familiar with the fact that they should create a business plan. However, often that's where many people stop. Unique Marketing Ideas That Generate Cash! First of all - keep in touch with your customers! One of the best ways to do this is with a newsletter. Today it's easier than ever to have a newsletter - use email.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
