Stop Running Scared
I realize in economic situations like these it is easy for people to panic or to run scared because of the way things are at this moment. I sympathize and I do experience the same challenges just as much as the next person. By no means am trying to make light of our economic times. But instead of running scared, I choose to get busy! I have received a number of calls from colleagues whose businesses have taken a tumble in recent weeks. They have no new contracts and the contracts they do have are not as lucrative as they once were. A number of people when faced with this situation, choose to think the worst.
What if though,you chose to think the best?
If you are accustomed to doing business one way and only one way, what would happen if you took this opportunity to expand your products or services? I am not advocating moving away from your mission nor am I suggesting that you become all things to all people, but what I am suggesting is to look for ways to enhance your business. Maybe you should consider a different type of client or a different service that you haven't ever considered before. Or maybe you should consider becoming slightly more competitive with your competitors and offer similar services they offer their clients.
Let's turn and think about marketing strategies. Specifically e-marketing. My question to you is: Have you thought about examining your marketing strategy to see if you are doing all that you can to become or remain TOP OF MIND in your chosen area of business? There are a number of inexpensive even free ways that you can implement to enhance your marketing program. Take for a case example the business of the ad agency. I chose this particular example to highlight because in times of economic downturn, most clients cutback on promotional and marketing services agencies are hired to do for them. Typically ad agencies are in the business of promoting, marketing and branding client goods or services by marketing the client through a variety of mediums available at the time, such as print, broadcast or electronic outlets. However I have to wonder if these ad agencies who are so good at marketing their clients, are using their own strategies and tactics they recommend to clients? If you are an ad agency and are faced with the challenge of how to grow your business in these economic conditions, then you may want to consider practicing what you preach to clients everyday. There are a number of low cost, no cost marketing options available through electronic means.
One area I keep honing in on is using social networking Web sites as a way to increase your brand. I have seen first-hand some successes and results social networking can have when utilized properly. If your ad agency or company is faced with not knowing what to do next to help grow clientèle, then you should consider marketing your work on Facebook and Linkedin or for that matter, any other business appropriate networking Web site. A number of these social networking sites have daily or group forums where members of the network ask questions or solicit new business directly.
Another area worthy of discussion is e-mail marketing. I want to make the case for e-mail marketing. As part of a client retention strategy most companies in today's marketplace should be collecting email addresses. Have you thought about developing an e-newsletter? or periodic ,short email messages to remind or communicate with clients what is happening with your business? One inexpensive tool I use is Constant Contact. I found it to be an inexpensive route to take and a pretty effective way to market clients, events and other items I have deemed important to communicate. There are other e-mail marketing products available such as i Contact. The point I am trying to dive home is that you need to be communicating with your clients on a regular basis and e-mail marketing seems to be a cheap and easy to do so.
Lastly, I recommend you become a blogger. You and your company are hired by clients for your expertise. Why not talk about your expertise by offering tips through a daily or weekly blog? Most blogging products are inexpensive or free and most are easy to manage. Let me offer some words of caution: you must be committed to blogging regularly and you must be careful not to give away company secrets.
As I have said, there are many inexpensive e-marketing strategies out there on the market, and if you use them on a regular basis you will notice an increase of awareness about your brand. Consistently increasing brand awareness in any medium will yield new contacts and clients. So instead of running scared, run straight towards the challenge and try new ways to increase your brand by adding electronic marketing to your overall strategy. Oh and by the way, always, always keep up your networking- it is more valuable now than ever before.
Here's to Happy E-Marketing! Cheers!
What if though,you chose to think the best?
If you are accustomed to doing business one way and only one way, what would happen if you took this opportunity to expand your products or services? I am not advocating moving away from your mission nor am I suggesting that you become all things to all people, but what I am suggesting is to look for ways to enhance your business. Maybe you should consider a different type of client or a different service that you haven't ever considered before. Or maybe you should consider becoming slightly more competitive with your competitors and offer similar services they offer their clients.
Let's turn and think about marketing strategies. Specifically e-marketing. My question to you is: Have you thought about examining your marketing strategy to see if you are doing all that you can to become or remain TOP OF MIND in your chosen area of business? There are a number of inexpensive even free ways that you can implement to enhance your marketing program. Take for a case example the business of the ad agency. I chose this particular example to highlight because in times of economic downturn, most clients cutback on promotional and marketing services agencies are hired to do for them. Typically ad agencies are in the business of promoting, marketing and branding client goods or services by marketing the client through a variety of mediums available at the time, such as print, broadcast or electronic outlets. However I have to wonder if these ad agencies who are so good at marketing their clients, are using their own strategies and tactics they recommend to clients? If you are an ad agency and are faced with the challenge of how to grow your business in these economic conditions, then you may want to consider practicing what you preach to clients everyday. There are a number of low cost, no cost marketing options available through electronic means.
One area I keep honing in on is using social networking Web sites as a way to increase your brand. I have seen first-hand some successes and results social networking can have when utilized properly. If your ad agency or company is faced with not knowing what to do next to help grow clientèle, then you should consider marketing your work on Facebook and Linkedin or for that matter, any other business appropriate networking Web site. A number of these social networking sites have daily or group forums where members of the network ask questions or solicit new business directly.
Another area worthy of discussion is e-mail marketing. I want to make the case for e-mail marketing. As part of a client retention strategy most companies in today's marketplace should be collecting email addresses. Have you thought about developing an e-newsletter? or periodic ,short email messages to remind or communicate with clients what is happening with your business? One inexpensive tool I use is Constant Contact. I found it to be an inexpensive route to take and a pretty effective way to market clients, events and other items I have deemed important to communicate. There are other e-mail marketing products available such as i Contact. The point I am trying to dive home is that you need to be communicating with your clients on a regular basis and e-mail marketing seems to be a cheap and easy to do so.
Lastly, I recommend you become a blogger. You and your company are hired by clients for your expertise. Why not talk about your expertise by offering tips through a daily or weekly blog? Most blogging products are inexpensive or free and most are easy to manage. Let me offer some words of caution: you must be committed to blogging regularly and you must be careful not to give away company secrets.
As I have said, there are many inexpensive e-marketing strategies out there on the market, and if you use them on a regular basis you will notice an increase of awareness about your brand. Consistently increasing brand awareness in any medium will yield new contacts and clients. So instead of running scared, run straight towards the challenge and try new ways to increase your brand by adding electronic marketing to your overall strategy. Oh and by the way, always, always keep up your networking- it is more valuable now than ever before.
Here's to Happy E-Marketing! Cheers!
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