Small Business Marketing Ideas That Work And Why They Do
Small business marketing ideas aren't hard to find. The major challenge with small business marketing ideas is that once you have one, you don't always know if it is as good an idea as you think that it is. Successful marketing ideas aren't something that 'feels good' or that 'sounds good.' What will prove whether they are good ideas, or not, is if they increase business. What helps verify if the marketing idea is a good one, or not, depends on a few solid indicators:
- What are the intended or desired purposes and goals of the marketing idea and activities?
- Is the proper audience being properly targeted with the proper information that the audience needs to make a buying decision?
- Is the total benefits factor crystal clear and obvious to your target audience?
- Does the marketing idea have a plan, criteria list for milestones and an assessment checklist?
The above questions appear to be very basic. However, asking and answering them accurately ensures whether the small business marketing idea is a good idea. Also, using the above questions as a basis for your standard researching of your marketing ideas will let you know, for sure, whether your marketing ideas will work. Admittedly, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' involved in this process. But, using the questions helps develop business skills that are only learned through experience. Expansion and further articulation of the process can be found in books and videos. But, the accuracy of your skills will only be developed through the process. By the way, there is a 'fancy' term for the process - "research." Everybody tells small business owners that they need it, but not enough small business owners ever find out what "it" is.
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Other Lessons Learned In Small Business Marketing Ideas
Research, Obsessions & Human Nature
- Marketing research demonstrates that, for the most part, people prefer and need to be led through the buying process.
- Marketing research demonstrates that selling people what they're "obsessed with" is much easier and much more lucrative than selling people a first-class, quality product or service that they normally purchase.
- Basic human nature affects the success of your small business marketing.
The time spent researching the effectiveness of your marketing idea will pay for itself, at least, tenfold. More significantly, using the process increases your business marketing skills and dramatically increases your confidence.
The Basic Process Steps
The questions that make the 'process' work every time.
- Ask the questions.
- Get and write down the answers.
- Cross check, cross reference and double check the answers.
- For this process - don't think like a business owner. Think like a customer.
- Pinpoint their wants - not their needs, their wants. People obsess over the "wants" not their "needs." Know the difference - don't judge - know the difference.
Message Criteria:
What, Who & How
- What is your marketing message?
- How will you say it (or get it said)?
- Why is "it" your marketing message (is it because it is cute or because it caters to people's "obsessive" human nature)?
- How will you get it said to them (according to McDonald's, Proctor & Gamble, and other world class marketers, they will have to hear/see your message 9 times to take action)?
- Who is your specific target audience?
- Who are they?
- How old are they?
- What kind of work do they do?
- Who are they currently buying from? Why would they leave them to do business with you?
- How much do they regularly spend on what you're selling? How do you know?
- What do they expect when they purchase what you're selling? Are they obsessed?
- What method(s) will be used to deliver your message to your target audience?
- Will the method get your message noticed?
- Are other messages being delivered in the same manner?
- How often are your messages delivered?
- Is the Most Wanted Response (the action that you want them to take) evident in your message?
Four Examples Of Human Nature and Obsessions and Small Business Marketing Ideas
You can observe the principles at work all around us.
- Walkmans continue to be popular, but people are "obsessed" with purchasing Ipods.
- Nintendo and Sony have very popular game programs - many people are "obsessed" with their various games.
- Big screen televisions continue to be very popular, but people are "obsessed" with plasma screen televisions - even with prices jumping all over the place.
- Young people are the driving force behind the tennis shoe industry. They love tennis shoes of all types, but they're "obsessed" with Nikes (and sometimes, Vans).
Recognize that people pander to their obsessions, not their needs no matter how important they may say that they are to them. They give much thought and calculation to their needs, but they pander to what they "obsess" about. Identify what benefits of your products/services fits in the scope of your customers' "obsessions" and your marketing battle is practically already won. Of course, you do have to implement the marketing ideas and activities. But, make it a habit of using the above process and success will be automatic (automatic as in "do the work and tasks" and good results will follow).
The process is very simple. But, the principles, philosophy, dynamics and concepts are thoroughly researched-based
You Can Learn The Principles And Concepts Of Successful Small Business Marketing Ideas
Getting a more in-depth understanding of the concepts, techniques and strategies will take your confidence and business to an entire new level - guaranteed.
A more in-depth and detailed articulation and expansion of this concept can be found by clicking here
The in-depth version includes information on processes and concepts about:
- Understanding your customers
- Educating your customers
- Start-Up Marketing
- Motivational Marketing
- Unique Selling Proposition
- Pinpointing Specific MWR - Most Wanted Responses
- Converting Prospects
- Direct Marketing
- Public Relations
- Marketing To Professionals (I find professionals the easiest to market and sell to - also, they have more money than the non-professionals and are worth spending time researching)
- Marketing for Specific Businesses
- Marketing What You Know (niche marketing continues to make me the most money of all of my marketing and business efforts - period)
- How To Plan And Implement A Great Marketing Campaign
Small Business Marketing Ideas Links And Resources
Links to the most comprehensive marketing resources available anywhere. You will not find a better quality Small Business Marketing learning resource.
- "Butterfly Marketing"
- Viral Marketing Concepts and software by Mike Filsaime
- Webmaster Free E-course
- Webmasters take products and services to the world. The e-course takes you on a step-by-step process that comprehensively teaches you the reality of the internet and how serious marketers are using it to profit from assisting businesses do business successfully online.
- Free Webmaster E-Course
- This e-course teaches real, practical and successful webmastering skills. It does a great job of introducing those new to web marketing as well as taking experienced webmasters to the next level. Building websites is no longer enough. This free e-course will triple your internet marketing confidence!
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Effective and profitable marketing isn't really about being able to 'name' all of the popular marketing categories. Successful markeing successfully encourages warm, willing clients ready and able to purchase high-end, quality products/services.
