Make Your Business More Marketable

Hola! Our double 7’s blog this week focuses on how to make your business more marketable. Likewise, more profitable.

We’ll share a few strategies you can implement. These will help increase reach, engagement, attention, and ultimately profit. Whether you are a small sole proprietor with little marketing budget, or a large corporation with dollars to spend, there are ways of easily making your business more marketable.

Make your business more marketable. Image of dollar bills and coins laying on glass with the 77 Design Co business card.

Let’s get to it:

Avoid confusing industry jargon or babble.

First thing to remember, not everyone will understand your business. Avoid using acronyms that may be confusing to others outside your industry. That is to say, keep marketing simple.

If you have to use them, give a brief description. Marketing promotes and helps sell a product or service best when illustrated creatively and the content is minimal. Too much info or too many choices will create consumer confusion. Read more from Wikipedia below: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_confusion

Create stories.

By all means, create stories! Another key to make your business more marketable is by sharing interesting stories. So, why did you get started in your profession? Is there a long history of your profession or the business? Talk about employees or customers. Make a good story and the marketing will take care of itself.

One of our clients has been around since the early 1900’s. We discussed this with them. There’s undoubtedly great stories to share there! Lots of stories, in fact. Customers love longevity in business. They wouldn’t be around still if they weren’t doing things right. Share that!

Humor always wins.
Make your business more marketable. Image of a coffee mug turned into a smiling face.

Humor is so underrated in the marketing world. Customers resonate with a brand that has fun. Likewise, we’re positive somewhere in the internet world there are statistics to back that claim up.

We don’t take ourselves too seriously at 77, unless the situation calls for it. So, it’s always a good idea to show personality and humor. As long as it’s in good taste. Stay away from sticky subjects like politics, race, or offensive material, but have fun.

Make funny posts. Take jabs at yourself or your industry. Share funny projects or situations. Humor’s especially effective for social media marketing.

Talk success.

No. Don’t brag. However, share success stories (see create stories above) about how you helped a customer. Let people know how you help. Why does your product/service stand out from a competitors?

Make your business more marketable by showing others what you can do. This can come in the form of photos, written content, videos, or even design. For example, if you own an auto repair shop, make a short video about what you repaired. Show how you repaired it. Interview the customer. Share it with the world.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, there are many other ways you can think of that will make your business more marketable. The above are just to get the ball rolling and give you some ideas.

Marketing is so vast and has so many different layers. Utilize your social media channels, brochures, signage, website, and/or printed materials to show some personality for the business. We’re sure you’ll see gains in leads, calls, brand recognition, and eventually income.

Marketing. White 77 Design Co logo

Analyze. Create. Achieve.

Using Creativity in Marketing

It’s no secret that using creativity in marketing translates into success. Whether it’s a T.V commercial or a direct mailer design, customers love ingenuity and originality. This blog will explore some creative measures you can take to up your company’s marketing game.

What is creativity…really?
Using creativity in marketing. Photograph of multi colored paint brushes and records.
Creativity is essential in marketing

Creativity is subjective. For example, what one may think is aesthetic another may not. At this point, let’s look at the actual definition. Merriam-Webster defines creativity as: “1: the ability to create //her artistic creativity 2: the quality of being creative” —–> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creativity

Pretty vague. You get the point though. Creativity can be minimal or complex. Much like the definition. One of the things we learn in grade school art class is that nothing can be wrong as long as some imagination is applied. The same is true even in college art classes. Instructors look for imagination and passion in a work. When they see lackluster effort the grade slips.

The same is applicable in marketing. Slogans, logos, photography, websites, and more all should be creative. Further, the first thing we hear from a new client is, what? Take a guess. Yep. You guessed it, “I want it to be creative.” At any rate that’s the point!

If our creativity is lacking that customer will not want to work with us. Consumers think the same way. They just aren’t aware of it in many cases. If the creativity lacks, the message is lost. Likewise, the grade slips. So, when something catches their eye, it resonates.

Creativity isn’t always easy.

It’s important to realize that creativity doesn’t come naturally to everyone. After all even the world’s greatest artists historically struggled from time to time. You know the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Similarly, it took Michelangelo roughly 4-5 years to paint the Sistine Chapel. He undoubtedly hit creative blocks during that process.

Here are a few things to think about when creating materials for your business:
  • Photography. Does the image tell a story? Is it perfectly focused, exposed, and composed? Ask yourself these questions before using an image in marketing. Don’t know what those photographic elements above mean? Google them! Include pattern, texture, or a pop in color. Make the photo(s) as creative as possible.
  • Graphic Design. Likewise as above. Does the design use complementary colors to the brand? Is the logo properly placed? Additionally, it should tell a story. Customers will notice. Any design work for brochures, signage, and other print will need to match your company’s brand image. Including alternate colors or fonts/typefaces will send mixed signals. Stay cohesive.
  • Website. The site needs to function properly. It should also look like your business cards and other marketing materials. Be creative but also simple. We’ve found simplicity over complexity for sites is better. It keeps a clean look. Many customers will want to stay on a site that’s easier to use too. Of course, mobile friendly as well.
  • Social Media. All social media pages will need to match the brand. This includes the messaging content of posts too. These pages are reflective of the company. Equally important, be sure to keep the logo visible. Social media is social. That’s what it’s meant for. However, it is also a great way to create brand identifiability. Make creative and interesting posts for others to engage with.
Screen shot image of the 77 Design Co Facebook page with orange logo. Using creativity in marketing.
Final Thoughts.

Creativity is one of the most useful tools you can apply to your marketing. The uses of color, line, composition etc are all powerful tools in art. These elements take a “meh” marketing piece and can turn it into a “WOW!” Finally, a brand that shows creativity in all aspects of marketing will stand out.

77Design Co logo and business cards.

Analyze. Create. Achieve.