Marketing for Business Presented by: Helen Duncan

Agenda What is marketing? Understanding your market Getting the right message Using the right medium Top 10 tips for boosting your business

What is marketing? “Marketing is the management process that identifies, anticipates and satisfies customer requirements profitably” The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) “The right product, in the right place, at the right time, at the right price” Adcock

Key to business success? “I don’t do any marketing – I get all my business from word of mouth.” Not a sustainable strategy… “Marketing is just an expense – I don’t need it.” It is an investment… “I’m too busy, I don’t have the time to do any marketing, I’ll wait until it’s quiet.” Danger of experiencing peaks and troughs…

What is marketing? “Central to your business success.” Helen Duncan 3 Ms of marketing… Marketing segment, message, medium

3 Ms of Marketing Market segment who are your customers and where are they? Message be clear about your proposition and what you are saying to your customers Medium how are you going to send your message to your target market

Understanding your market Get close to your customers Be targeted Where are your customers, local, national? Do they have issues you can resolve? Different products/services may attract different markets

Your message We’re all bombarded every day…

Your message 3 seconds is all it takes to win or lose The ‘so what’ test Know what your proposition is – why would I buy from you? Keep it simple, keep it brief Think benefits not features Be consistent

AIDA Grab the Attention of your audience Create Interest by showing how you can help them Create Desire by describing what you are offering and how it benefits them Include a call to Action

Your medium How you communicate with your clients… StationeryAdvertising BlogsBusiness cards SignagePromotional mailers Logo/brandingPackaging BrochuresPublic Relations Customer service newsletters LeafletsVouchers NewslettersNetworking ReferralsEvents Social networkingOnline shop

Your medium Getting the marketing mix right is key Often businesses use the wrong marketing tools or at the wrong time You need to target the right customers with the right messages using the right tools

My top 10 tips for boosting business 1. First impressions do count… Get your image right Take a hard look at your business cards, your website, leaflets etc. Do they portray a professional company?

2. Provide the best customer service It’s the classic 80:20 rule, selling to existing customers is much easier than selling to new ones so you want to keep them When marketing brings in new customers you have to wow them You want them to come back next time and to tell everyone what a good company this is!

3. Get your website to work for you If you haven’t got one, get one! Increase conversions with relevant content Keep your site updated, link to a blog, news If you are retail, sell online! Invest in search engine optimisation Link to an marketing campaign

4. Customers are king…keep in touch Use an marketing campaign to keep in touch with your customers It reminds them you are there It reminds them of the other things you do You can get instant feedback It links to your website If you are retail it can sell for you!

5. Get your message right Have a clear proposition Remember the 3 second and so what rule Put yourself in your customer’s shoes Think benefits, benefits, benefits Keep it simple, keep it brief Remember AIDA!

6. Public Relations Never waste a PR opportunity Local papers/trade magazines/networking groups/chamber sites New products, new services, an interesting case study – how you helped someone, charity events, local interest, national interest, associated with current news and follow up, photographs Send to free online press releases:

7. Direct mail Can sometimes be very memorable Keep messages short and use imagery Drive your customers to a website Great for new products and brand awareness Remember AIDA! Be targeted

8. Networking Commit to 2/3 networking groups that suit your business Remember you are building relationships not selling Build the costs into your plan and give them time Build up your social networking with LinkedIn, FaceBook, Twitter etc

9. Events Look for opportunities to exhibit your products and services Large exhibitions are expensive but very effective if within your target market Or look for smaller, regional and local events – Chamber/Business Link/networking groups If you have a retail/premise bring an event to you – host local artists, book signings, travel agent’s country days

10. Measure Never get complacent even if your marketing is bringing in new business, things change rapidly Monitor what you do. Ask new customers how they found you. Find out what works best for your business. Don’t be afraid to think out of the box. What would make you pick up the phone

In summary… Know your customers and understand their needs Know what your differentiator is Target the right customers Use the right tools Do what you promise every time Measure the results

Finally… Recession can be an opportunity for some businesses to grab market share! “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” Buying habits change, so your marketing might have to change too Get really close to your clients and understand what they want Stay positive and stay active