3 Steps to Take Before You Setup Your Small Business Marketing Strategy
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Along with your business plan, your small business marketing plan is one of the most important long-term plans you'll make for your small business.
Brandt Stoht, from the smallbusinessmktng.com has three steps to setup your small business marketing strategy:
1. Know your market
Ask yourself: Who are my customers? Once you've identified who they are, ask yourself: What are my customers' problems? What are their dreams and aspirations? The surest way to answer those 3questions, of course, is to ask your customers themselves.
2. Know yourself
Ask yourself: What does my business do? How is my business different than my competitors? How does my business help solve my customers' problems or help them achieve their dreams? Brandt Stohr advises answering these questions will help you to define your unique selling proposition those aspects that set you apart from your competitors.
3. Analyze your competitors' small business marketing strategies
First, look at your competitors' small business marketing strategies. Are there obvious gaps that you could fill (and thereby stand out among the competition)? For example, if you see that none of your competitors have websites, you could stand out with a small business marketing strategy online.
Brandt Stoht, from the smallbusinessmktng.com has three steps to setup your small business marketing strategy:
1. Know your market
Ask yourself: Who are my customers? Once you've identified who they are, ask yourself: What are my customers' problems? What are their dreams and aspirations? The surest way to answer those 3questions, of course, is to ask your customers themselves.
2. Know yourself
Ask yourself: What does my business do? How is my business different than my competitors? How does my business help solve my customers' problems or help them achieve their dreams? Brandt Stohr advises answering these questions will help you to define your unique selling proposition those aspects that set you apart from your competitors.
3. Analyze your competitors' small business marketing strategies
First, look at your competitors' small business marketing strategies. Are there obvious gaps that you could fill (and thereby stand out among the competition)? For example, if you see that none of your competitors have websites, you could stand out with a small business marketing strategy online.
Labels: marketing, marketing strategy, small business, unique selling proposition
4 Expert Tips for a Succesfull Small Business Marketing Strategy
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Developing that unique selling proposition should be your first step in crafting a successful small business marketing strategy. To make sure that your small business marketing is all that it can be, follow these four expert tips:1. Focus on the benefits to the customer
Your prospective customers don’t really care what great features you’re offering. They care about how your product/service will help them – how it will solve their problems or help them achieve their dreams. So instead of listing the 100 fabulous features that your product/service has that the other guy doesn’t, list the 10 ways that your product/service will help your prospective customers, and you’ll be on your way to successful small business marketing.2. Consider your product/service from the customer’s point of view
Even if you can’t hire an expensive marketing firm to set up focus groups for you, you can create a small business marketing solution. Assemble a group of friends and family who are similar to your prospective customers and ask them what their needs and wants are. Then incorporate their responses into your marketing materials. Voila – you’re now speaking directly to the customer, from his or her point of view!3. Prove it!
One of the easiest, least expensive small business marketing strategies for backing up your claims with prospective customers is to include testimonials from satisfied current clients in your small business marketing materials.4. Project an image of confidence and authority
Whether you’re selling widgets or consulting services, small business marketing is really about selling yourself – your expertise, your integrity, and your reputation. Even if you’re just starting out in business, you are an expert in your own right. So act like one! If you see yourself as a confident, authoritative business person, your customers will, too.Labels: focus, marketing, small business, tips, unique selling proposition, usp
