Marketing Made Simple

Don't Stress, It's Hard Work But It's Not Hard

There is a vast amount of marketing information for the business owner to consider regarding marketing strategies and plans, and it is sometimes difficult to know where to begin.

Marketing is THE MOST critical aspect of your business planning as your success relies largely on successful, cost effective marketing methods.

Marketing a business is really 6 simple steps –

Step 1 - Figure out what you’re good at.
Step 2 – Can you manufacture/duplicate it?
Step 3 – Is there a big enough market for it, will people/businesses buy it?
Step 4 – Find out who the people/businesses are that’ll buy it.
Step 5 – Find a way to market your products & services specifically to them.
Step 6 – Sell it to them.

Simple eh!

Have a Think About the Following -

• How can I set my business apart from my competition.
• Is my business unique enough to attract customers and stand above competitors.
• What is my competition offering and how can I do it better.
• What’s my future customer’s needs and work to fill those needs.

A brainstorming session on these points, with your business colleagues & staff, is a terrific idea and should result in some very creative solutions.

Bu fundamentally... if you think customer benefits, you’ll be able to answer them all.

Benefits, Benefits, Benefits.

All of the above points can be addressed by thinking benefits.

Customers only care about benefits.

Selfish aren't they... but that's good.

Because we can find out what they want and design our marketing to target their exact wants & needs.

"Simple... god bless selfish customers"

They simply just do not care about who owns the company, how their products are made or whether the owner's wife is 20 years younger then he is.

They only care about what your products & services can do for them.

Determine Your Target Marketing Group.

The more you pinpoint your marketing focus, the greater the results.

If you know what your customers really want, all you have to do is think about the benefits that suit them.

Customers are concerned only with how a product or service can benefit THEM.

Consumers & businesses today want to know that they are getting their money’s worth, and a clear understanding of how your product or service can provide them with what they need (solve their problem) is essential to closing the sale.

Market Positioning.

For example, it’s pointless advertising top quality, hand-made items if you’re a discounter.

Similarly, don’t expect to be killed in the rush flogging $1 tea towels in Harrods.

The Budget.

Even with your marketing made simple, money allocated to a marketing budget plan can easily creep past the intended limit, so it is important to keep a close watch on it.

Try and stay within the amount set in the budget and be cautious of undertaking any ‘too good to miss’ marketing opportunities that may spring up from time to time.

Marketing is a worthwhile investment in your business’s future and needs to be funded appropriately… so spend your money wisely.

Regular reviews are a good idea.

Your marketing plan needs to be monitored constantly in order to track the results of each strategy. Maintain an open mind and be ready to adjust your plan when needed.

Remember, benefits, benefits, benefits IS ALL marketing made simple really is.

Modern Net-Wit:

"She was growing up and that was the direction I wanted her to take. Who wants a daughter growing sideways?"

..........................................................................Spike Milligan


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