14.1 Marketing Tools
The main focus of this module will be to provide you with a number of different tools to help provide an advantage when it comes to your own particular marketing strategy. Not every tool will be capable of helping every individual, but there is every chance that they could indeed make some kind of a difference. By tools we do not mean just the software, but rather some general concepts that you can use to propel your business forward. Some of these will cost you money, but others will be free which is always good for those on a tight budget.
Online Identity
We have discussed the importance
of being online, but this is about more than just making sure that you have a
presence. Instead, a good marketing tool is you working to build your entire
online persona. This means your website, social media, profiles on directories
or anything else that people can find online. You need to ensure that there is
consistency and that you look professional at all times.
Networking
Networking is the absolute bread
and butter of marketing your business and this can be done either online or
offline and it is really all about how much effort you are willing to put into
it. Do it locally by physically going to meetings. Do it nationally or
internationally by joining groups online and becoming active. Swap details on
your social media profiles and add new friends to increase awareness of your
business. It is all part of building relationships and relationships form the
absolute core of networking.
Brand Loyalty
We are including brand loyalty because providing your customers or clients with a reason for coming back to you is a powerful marketing tool that could mark you out as being different from the rest. Yes this is going to reduce your profit margins, but at the same time you can gain in the long term by having people return to you time and time again.
Mention
This is an actual tool and one that could prove important for you as it tracks what people are saying about your industry and even your competitors. Instigate a search for specific keywords or phrases and you will then see how to tweak your marketing to take advantage of these thoughts/comments.
Referral Rock.
It has been shown in studies that as much as 85% of all new customers or clients come via referrals. This is huge and it is certainly something that any marketer has to then be able to take advantage of and this is where Referral Rock comes into play. This allows you to build your very own referral program and at the same time, it only takes a matter of minutes to set up and then people can get rewards for referring people to your business.
Oktopost
If you have created a number of different social media profiles as part of your marketing then you may be aware of how difficult it is to keep track of everything. If this is the case then you should consider Oktopost, as it allows you to control the content posted across your profiles and at the same time allows you to keep track of how well your campaigns are performing.
FACT
Catalogues are a powerful tool for driving traffic to websites and web sales. Organisations found that 59% of their sales had been directly attributed to a catalogue and have seen a 29% uplift in web sales.
Source: Catalogues4business.co.uk
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO has been mentioned throughout the modules because of its importance and it should not be overlooked. This is where you will learn about keywords that appear in your content and website with this being linked to the niche that you are focusing on. However, being a complex area it is recommended that you seek professional to receive the correct guidance.
Integration
Integrate and become active in your industry or community. Get involved in your own community whether that be via location or industry. You cannot afford to stand on the outskirts looking in, as you will be missing an opportunity to achieve further growth within your company.
Customer Demographics
This is where you learn more about who your customers are and what they should expect of you. This is the point where you educate yourself on what they like, what they look for, and how to then best place yourself in front of them. Sound difficult? Well, it does not have to be tough but it is essential to your marketing.
There are of course a number of other marketing tools that could be useful to you, but it all depends on your own individual goals and aims and how you plan on getting there. Start with your goals, work out the path you need to take to reach them and then check out the tools that can help facilitate this. These tools may make all the difference - if you give them the chance.
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