“How Marketing Helps Other Areas of Business” is an article discussing the additional benefits marketing has on your business. It’s not just sales that a great marketing plan assists with. There are many other advantages you will find with a creative and well-planned marketing strategy.
How Marketing Helps Other Areas of Business
Customer retention
Even if you do not get one new lead, call, or make one sale through a marketing program, there can still be benefits. Customer retention is at the top of this list. A great promotion of your products & services will keep you on top of mind with your current customers. Of course, the marketing has to be of interest and come complete with consistent professional content, video, or images. Likewise, this leads to repeat purchases from your base down the line. In many cases in our experience, the repeat business alone pays for itself.
Keeping customers is important to just about any business. A solid marketing plan makes this easier and more possible.
Tracking & analytics
Another reason to consider how marketing helps other areas of business is through tracking & analytics. It’s important to realize how your marketing can help you forge ahead with what is working, and what is not. Have you ever looked over your company FB analytics to see how much reach or engagement you get on a particular post? No? Well, you should. For instance, that is just one simple example.
The very idea of tracking what a current customer (or potentially new customer) is interested in should peak your interest. Why? Because this is how you make the connection! Certainly you would want to know who your customer is, what they like, their ages, and as much more as you can about them. Obviously, all of this information can and should be used to tailor your marketing message. You get to know and understand your customer more intimately.
Branding & visibility
Keep colors, logos, and other branding consistent.
Is your business immediately recognized when you meet new people or potential customers? Yes? Alright, feel free to click away. No? Well, time to make it recognizable!
The tagline, logo, and other branding content should be consistent throughout. Every social media page, printed material, web page and all else should look the same or at least very similar. Additionally, Hootsuite offers plenty more here: https://blog.hootsuite.com/brand-awareness/
Give us your marketing problems. Yep, you heard that right. We want your marketing problems. Bold…but true. We have the tools, experience, and resources to fix your problems.
Give us Your Marketing Problems. We have the tools to fix them.
In the Beginning
When we started this venture together, we identified a host of issues that both of us have ran across over the years we have been in business. I will not say we’ve seen it all. However, we have definitely seen our fair share of problems in the creative/marketing world. Everything from web designers bailing on their clients never to be heard of again, to improperly designed logos, to incorrect photo files delivered to customers.
Additionally, we’ve seen a whole range of other issues in between. Too many times creatives simply just take the money. Then, they create sub par products and disappear or never correct the problems. This is unprofessional and irritating to the clients that have come to us with these issues. Likewise, it also annoys the hell out of us too. It’s a black eye on the industry.
Not Everyone
Firstly, let me also say that this is not completely across the board. There are amazing graphic designers, photographers, and web creatives out there that do top notch artwork. They understand also that they need to give clients the highest quality of work and service. We love meeting these people! If you are reading this and feel like you are a highly creative, responsive, and a responsible professional in one of these fields…drop us a line. We’d be excited to chat with you and see how we could work together.
Sorry If This Has Happened to You
Above all, if you are a business owner that has fell into one of these traps…we are sorry. We’ll make the apology on their behalf. If you spent way too much money on something that didn’t work or didn’t work very well, again, we are sorry. We are also here to help find the solution.
Ever Have Any of The Following Problems?
Is your website outdated or not designed to your liking? Does your social media content lack an impactful message? Do you only have web sized files that a photographer delivered to you and are unable to use any images for print? Are the photos not very well focused or even eye catching? Is your logo pixelating and distorting when you try to add it to a larger sign, or even on the web? Did the person who made your website make it and then never return calls or emails? Not sure what to do with your business social media pages, or how to operate them to maximum efficiency? Was the cost associated with any of your marketing efforts beyond what you wanted to spend? Need a way to get customers to see what your product or service is REALLY all about? Don’t feel that the marketing company you used in the past completely understood your industry and business?
If you answered yes to any of the above or similar questions give us a call. We’d love to help with a free consultation.
We listen. We’ll offer free advice. Next, we’ll dig deep into your business to learn as much as we can about it. After that we act quickly. We are not your typical marketing service. However, we have all the tools and know how to fix your marketing problems!
Begin the Year with a BANG! 2023 is a new year with new challenges which requires some newer ideas to make your business more profitable. If your business is like the countless other small businesses across the country, the last few years may have been difficult. To say the least. No time to sit around. No dillydallying. And definitely no “I’ll do it tomorrows.” Time to kick it into gear and start 2023 off strong!
Get Social
Facebook. LinkedIn. Instagram. Even Tik Tok and Twitter. Yea, that’s right, Twitter. Regardless of all of the politics involving these platforms they can be incredibly beneficial to your business. If you want to begin the year with a bang, and your company is not on social, it’s time to change that. It’s 2023 for crying out loud! Don’t let the idea of not knowing how these channels work scare you into not taking advantage of them.
Many, MANY businesses have been taking advantage of social media for years. In our experience, several even rely solely on social media as their main #1 marketing source. That is to say, social is where they get most, if not all, of their new customers. All in all, most companies can definitely utilize these platforms to their advantage. There are industry specific groups in almost every field you should be sharing information with, or just making connections through. “We don’t think social media is for us.” WRONG! Use it, but use it to its full potential the right way.
Make Rockin’ Videos
Video is still at the top of the mountain for promotion. There’s a ton of different ways to utilize them. So, let’s discuss this. In general video can be used anywhere (other than print marketing) as a great source of marketing. For the most part, almost every marketing expert out in web-land is predicting short video as the go-to marketing resource. Likewise, they may not be wrong.
Short impactful videos can promote your company as, caring, knowledgeable, industry experts, humorous, or just generally fun to work with. So, each one of these traits are helpful in attracting customers. Start a YouTube channel. Create YouTube shorts and do paid promos there. Share short video links through email marketing, social media channels, or even on digital billboards. Make them. Use them. Benefit from those videos.
In short, there are likely other ways you can “Begin the New Year with a BANG” in regards to marketing. These are just a few. So, let us know what you need help with and we’ll make it happen for you and your business!
Year-End Marketing Ideas discusses some useful ideas to better market your business at the end of the year, and into the next. Small businesses all over the world have had some hard times the last few years. It’s difficult to keep up marketing and advertising alongside the major corporations that seemingly have endless pockets. We’ll list some inexpensive (or free) ideas that can make an impact for your business.
Helpful.
Market to be helpful. Not many things are as annoying as being infinitely bombed with sales, sales, sales. As we have said in the past, make your company helpful. Some of these Year-End Marketing Ideas will help your company in the long run. If your company has the ability to assist people with problems share those. This takes us to…
Share Info or Solutions.
Share info and solutions. Is there a big change in your industry? Do you offer something that can truly help others save money, improve health, wealth, or their future? What information at your disposal backs that up?
At this point, it is also important to ensure that your sources are credible and reliable. Try not to use opinion based sources in your marketing message. If you do, on the other hand, make sure they come from reliable industry leaders or news organizations.
What’s the Offer?
Finally, what’s the offer? At the same time as sharing info and being helpful, offer something you truly believe in. For example, is your offer a huge discount? Likewise does it truly benefit the customer? Society? Don’t throw offers out there (especially during the holidays) that are obviously self-centered for business growth. There is a fine line. Marketing is in a sense, self-centered. Its whole purpose is to create growth, attention, and eventually wealth for your business. However, you can market selflessly. Perhaps, you take a little hit on a great customer offer to help growth in the long term. Creating long-lasting customers that trust you will pay off in the end.
Alternate Ideas.
Equally as important as the above categories, establish visually creative messages. If the offer is spectacular and the information is extremely important, none of it will likely matter if there isn’t something great to see. In the past we’ve shared research and statistics about how visuals affect marketing messages. Read more about visual perception, communication, customer psychology, and more from Patrick Mutabazi and LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-important-visuals-marketing-patrick-mutabazi?trk=articles_directory. There’s a ton of factors involved.
What marketing doesn’t do is an article that discusses some things not to expect when hiring a team. There are many wonderful things that marketing brings to the table for your business. Without a doubt! Potential new customers. An identifiable brand. Increased potential business. Or, simply just presenting your company as a creative reliable source. Just to name a few.
Marketing is definitely a benefit to your business. But, don’t expect everything to be the responsibility of marketing.
However, there are also things that are occasionally expected that are not responsibilities of a marketing team. On occasion, a business owner may believe that marketing will solve all of their problems. This may not be the case. We have turned down several contracts over the years due to this inaccurate belief. Let’s get to it.
PR Problems
Marketing MAY be able to assist in some public relations issues. It is not the entire fix though.
A few moons ago we met with a general contractor that believed he needed marketing help. We sat down and discussed their business thoroughly. One of the things he said was, ” I can get all the business we need. I just can’t get my guys to show up on time or stay and finish the job quickly.” “Customers get mad at that.” All of a sudden, things became clearer!
As I have noted, we talked pretty thoroughly about his business for about an hour up to this point. We chatted about the direction of their website, social media, and a few other aspects of promotion. We were there to help narrow down the problem, after all. The main issue was his crews that were on the jobs. They felt that good marketing could quell the negativity they were receiving. While that could help, it’s not the total fix.
At this point we discussed resolving the issues with the crews first. He was ready to pay us whatever in the belief this would help. Not how we operate. We certainly didn’t want to take on an impossible task of building a plan that would inevitably fall flat. In short, please don’t expect that marketing alone will solve an issue such as this.
Closing Sales
Want eyes on your business? Good solid marketing. Looking to increase leads and calls? Ok, same thing. Trying to show the world who your company is? Yep, you guessed the answer.
Need to close that sales deal? Uh, not what marketing does. That is the job of a sales team. Creative and informative promotional marketing will put you on the fish. Now, it’s time for sales to bait the hook and reel them in. Analogous to the PR issues above, not part of the advertising or marketing job. A good way to improve sales and the content messaging is to get both teams together to come up with new ideas.
A Few Other Things
Below are a few other things that should not be expected. Or, at least these should be discussed right out of the gate.
Business management (making decisions on sales, hiring/firing, and more)
Guaranteed new sales (this depends on the effectiveness of the sales team)
Answering calls or messages. At times a general response can be included in a plan or contract. However, (at least in our case) we refer interested customers to the business owner or manager directly. A marketing team may not have the answers to very specific industry related questions or concerns.
In conclusion, we’ll (marketers in general) always do the absolute best we can to ensure your marketing is effective and creative. We always want the company we are working for to thrive even in a down economy. However, there are certain things that may require alternate assistance. If your company is looking to meet new customers, get new eyeballs on your product or service, or just needs brand identifiability drop us a line anytime here: https://77designco.com/contact-us-2/
Is your company blogging? Why not? There are many reasons why adding a consistent blog to your marketing arsenal will eventually benefit your business. It won’t be instant. Basically, it will take a little time to get results. Much like most marketing efforts, you have to build it. It also takes a lot of work, discipline, and know-how to effectively blog. We’ll cover that in this article…so read on!
Is your company blogging?
It Starts With an Idea!
By all means, we’ll openly admit at times it’s difficult to come up with blog topic ideas. Thankfully though, you have us here to help! 🙂 However, blogging ideas can come from anywhere!
An employee may have a milestone year coming up. Blog.
New product or service offer? That’s a blog.
Something change drastically in your industry? Yep. That can also be a blog.
Holidays are coming up quickly. Perhaps your company donates time or money to an organization. Let your customers know. Blog! Not only does that show you are a caring company, but it’s also a feel good story people love to see. It raises awareness too. Just don’t brag, but show you care.
Your company can do blog videos. Or, post photos and write about them.
We had clients a few years ago that decided to start their own blog. This was after we trained them on best blogging practices. At this point, they had everything they needed. Likewise, they also had a fantastic idea to start out with. The husband/wife team were going to use their dog as the blogger. Super idea! In any case, let’s call him Rover.
Rover was to write industry specific consistent blogs and get photos of himself at the computer each time. It was a cute. This was a fabulous idea and would really resonate with people. We will have to check in with them to see how this series is going.
At any rate, start jotting ideas down now for blogs. Keep a list. Every time a new idea comes to mind document it.
Effective Blogging.
In order to have effective blogs, you have to know how to make them work. The idea surely helps, especially if it’s a good topic or strategy. While this may be true, it’s also true that you should know what you are doing. This includes writing skills, punctuation, as well as effective SEO and readability.
Setting up your blogs to be SEO friendly is often a task in and of itself. Images need to be sized properly. The length of the blog matters. Keyphrases and meta descriptions should be added. Internal and external links also matter.
It often takes a lot of trial and error to create SEO ready and readable blogs. If you are using WordPress as your website, the little green smiley faces can either be your friends…or worst enemies when red. Unsure of what this means or how to ensure your blogs reach their maximum capability? Drop us an email, call, or message here for a free blogging consultation or training: https://77designco.com/contact-us-2/
You don’t have to just take our word or it. Read the above Forbes article on just how important it can be for your business. Other ways blogs help include, increased web traffic, increased social media engagement, reaching new potential customers, and of course providing useful information about your company or industry.
They also make you an expert authority on certain subjects. This is true especially if others in your field aren’t sharing relevant information and solutions. Blogging is an excellent addition to a marketing plan and is inexpensive versus some other strategies.
Pitfalls & Difficulties.
Everything in life has some difficulties to deal with. Good blogging is no different. Here we will list some of them:
They can (but not always) take a long time to write and review.
Blogging requires know-how to be effective. Some expertise is required. At minimum, at least a training course should be taken.
A good blogger should have some writing experience. For example, nothing is more unprofessional than reading an improperly spaced, misspelled, or poorly written article. It’s bad business. Creativity, and imagination also go a long way.
Hiring a marketing team or blogger costs money. Nothing is free. You will pay for what you get. Some writers can be inexpensive. In any case, be sure to check those credentials and previous bodies of work. Other writers can be expensive. Some charge middle rates. Depending on how many blogs per month you want, it can add up. According to HubSpot https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/blogging-frequency-benchmarks you should blog 1-2 times per week. Other sources claim roughly the same. However, that’s not to say your company shouldn’t blog at least monthly or bi-monthly. You can still reap the benefits of a consistent monthly blog.
Wrapping it Up.
“Is your company blogging? Why not?” is written to get your juices flowing if you are on the fence about setting up a company blog. We are “pro-blog” here at 77. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks. If you want your company found it’s a great strategy to implement. So, if this is something on your radar but you need help, let us know! We’ll help guide your business to success.
