How to Turn Your Marketing Into a Money-Making Machine - Preparing for Marketing That Yields Results

The usual complaint from companies is that Marketing simply does not yield as expected. So much effort, time, and money goes into campaigns, and yet the frustrations persist: Why aren't sales up? Why are we not growing? And the truth, sadly enough, is that no one can really pinpoint what is working well, and what simply is not producing anything (and costing the company!).

As with anything else, preparation is key. Without laying a foundation for success, success will not magically appear.

Strategizing

Strategy comes first, allowing you to determine your goals and what actions you will need to take accordingly. Once strategy is firmly in place, you will have the language at your disposal for all communications with your target audience.

Here are important areas to define:

1. Identify who you are, your values, what you stand for

2. Have a clear vision for where your company is headed, a mission statement to live by

3. Be sure you understand your product and/or service well

4. Always know your audience inside and out

5. Dissect in great detail what the benefits of your product/service are

Note that going through this process is crucial whether you have been in business for a day or for a decade! And it is important to review these areas periodically, at least once a year. In doing so, you continually have a good grasp of who you are and what your purpose is as a company.

Your overall strategy unfolds from the above answers and statements. Before diving into the gameplan, answer the following questions, which will help define the direction you will take in the years to come:

1. Where do we want to be as a company in a year? What does it look and feel like?

2. How about in five years?

3. Ten years?

Be detailed. Don't hold back as you define every aspect of your organization, and how you will interface with all those around you: management, employees, clients, and vendors. The thought precedes the event, therefore start by painting the picture, and its realization will happen naturally.

The gameplan

This is the fun part, the actual gears of your money-making machine. I recommend that you use a calendar approach, either via software, or through a wall-sized calendar that everyone can write on and reference easily.

The calendar becomes your week-by-week or month-by-month roadmap for what you will be doing to reach your audience-the gameplan itself that will keep you focused on your goals. By knowing what is coming up well in advance, you will be able to plan accordingly and execute successfully.

The purchase rarely happens right away, and it is therefore crucial to stay in touch with potential customers consistently over the long-term. This will gradually convince them that you are the company of choice, and allow them to overcome their fears and objections. Cutting through the clutter of SPAM and regular mail, billboards, radio, and TV-just to name a few-takes time. You need to stand out and have something useful to say.

To establish expertise and win audiences over, try these ideas:

1. A letter announcing an upcoming event. Hold a special event (presentation, seminar) and make a big deal about it.

2. A follow-up call on the letter. This is different than cold-calling, as you are specifically referencing this special event, of potential interest to that targeted individual.

3. The actual event. Whether showcasing some product, covering some aspect of investing, health-related matters-this brings you face-to-face with your audience, allowing for unparalleled interaction.

4. A document follow-up to that event. You might choose to make available information from the event, for those who were not able to attend. More educational material to draw them closer to you.

5. A case study or useful article that is mailed out. Not written about you, but about a topic relating to your business or industry. The case study is a powerful tool for discussing how you solved a customer's problems, and can include testimonials that are worth gold.

6. An email announcement. Something useful that you recommend that could be of benefit to your audience. Only to those who have opted in, of course.

Bottom line: do not bore or annoy your audience! Give them educational and interesting materials without actually selling (the beauty and power of successful Marketing). You will be educating them towards the time when they choose to purchase from you-and there is nothing like working with a customer who already knows all about you and what you do?

Josh Barinstein is President of Red Frog, Inc., the Portland, Oregon ad agency that provides worry-free experiences and powerful results in the areas of Marketing, Print design, Web/CD-ROM development, and Video production.

Learn more at http://www.RedFrogInc.com or by calling 888-955-0550.

You have permission to distribute this article as long as all of the text contained herein remains intact.

---

Have You Tried Cause Marketing?

To help promote your small business or professional practice, consider... Read More

7 Ways a Copywriter Can Help Your Business Succeed

Think you can't afford to hire a copywriter? Think again.... Read More

Trade Show Promotions That Are Memorable

If you have been to expos and trade shows as... Read More

Marketing with Special Reports. 5 Ways to Develop Content Your Prospects Cant Wait to Read

So you've decided to start publishing an e-newsletter, or you'd... Read More

8 Ways to Fill a Workshop in a Bum Economy

Yes, you can fill a workshop when spending is down... Read More

The Surprise Inside!

Think about all those Cracker Jacks you ate as a... Read More

Catalogs are Selling Machines

If you've got a mailbox, you're no doubt aware of... Read More

Are You Attracting or Repelling Prospects?

There are basically two ways in which you can either... Read More

6 Things I Know About Postcards That You Don?t

In my plethora of experience tucked away between these ears,... Read More

Getting Your Marketing Message Across with CD Business Cards

CD Business cards allows any type of business that dynamic... Read More

Make Your E-Mail Signature File WORK for You!

You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files -... Read More

Mobile Auto Detailers and Newspaper Companies as Clientele

If you are a mobile auto detailer or mobile car... Read More

The Power of because...

"Do it!", "Do it now!", or "Do it because..."Which of... Read More

Marketing Strategy 101: 10 Marketing Strategies I Learnt From My Oral Surgeon

This is how the conversation went on my follow-up visit... Read More

Why Smart People Dont Know How to Market

As an educated professional, your success is based on what... Read More

Produce More Sales from your Email Promotions - Part 2

Do sales come from your ezine regularly? How many well-written... Read More

How To Bond With Customers So That They Stay With You Longer

How many of your customers are loyal customers? More importantly... Read More

Corporate Branding and Trade Shows - 8 Tips for Marketing Managers

Trade shows are part of the marketing mix and the... Read More

Knowing When To Charge More and To Charge Less

More And MoreIt was notable that when I started my... Read More

Knock, knock. Whos There? Your Target Market, Are You Listening?

Have you ever had a conversation with a person who... Read More

Time for A Marketing Tune-up

If you have been in business any length of time,... Read More

Networking: The Cost of a Connection

"Networking is a waste of time," said JoAnne, owner of... Read More

Attracting New Business on a Shoestring Budget

In a recent marketing workshop I attended, I discovered that... Read More

Distinguish Your Business From The Competition

You followed time-honored online marketing techniques to the letter: you... Read More

A Pass / Fail Test for Any New Market

If you are considering entering a new target market, with... Read More

Break Even On Your Next Direct Mail Campaign...And Still Generate Huge Profits

With direct mail, you can break even and still claim... Read More

How to Turn a Marketing Calendar into Marketing Success!

Do you have a list of marketing ideas that you'd... Read More

Baby Boomers - Marketing to the Me Generation

Unless you've been in a dimly lit cavern for the... Read More

Dont Use Yourself as Your Pricing Yardstick

"I wouldn't pay more than what I charge now."If you... Read More

Direct Marketing: Overlooked, Underappreciated, and Unstoppable

Every business needs customers, but more importantly every business needs... Read More

Learn How to Market Your eBusiness in Real Time: Dissect, Study, Emulate

Everything you will ever need to know about internet marketing... Read More

21 Must-Have Web Site Elements

Your Web site should be the cornerstone of your client... Read More

Beyond Repair: The Fixed-price Model

Don't get me wrong. I certainly don't think the majority... Read More