Perfect Life

Many businesses today are aligning themselves with charities as part of their marketing strategy. Not only does this help them to develop their network but also supports their community in the process. Customers will also appreciate supporting a business that does help disadvantaged people. Charities are also fully aware that the secondary purpose for your support is to increase your own bottom line and, as such, are experienced in helping companies achieve a strong return on their investment.

Choose the right organization. Look for charitable organizations that will give you exposure to a number of influential people for expanding your network. Take your own talents into consideration, as you will want to volunteer your time in a position that will emphasize your own skills. Also consider your own customers and choose a charitable event in which your own target market would participate.

Publicity. Obviously, it is important to link your name with the charitable organization you select. Publicize your donations of goods or services with press releases as well as posting it with pictures on all your social media sites. Include your involvement in your marketing materials, such as newsletters or advertisements. Give away information on your charity as part of your normal business transaction, such as having pamphlets on your counter. Also, ask the organization to recognize your support in their own publicity efforts, on their social media pages, and on their website.

Your marketing strategy is decided and your budget organized. You have a long list of possible customers, your products are on its ways, and your contact persons are ready. You are now ready for action. But there still seems to be a problem. You don’t know how to let your target customers know about you and your business.

There is actually a simple answer to that-the business cards. For decades, entrepreneurs have used the marketing power of these modest cards to get word about their business out there. Though simple and almost insignificant, cards are a necessity to every business. Even in today’s highly digital business industry, the work of these cards is still indispensable.

Of course, your card has to contain your basic contact details such as your name, mailing address, contact numbers, email, website, and other important contact details. But aside from that information, your card can contain other creative and compelling details. You can present other elements in your card that will make it more captivating and informative.

Make your card remarkably sticky. Notice those ads that can’t seem to leave your sight or your mind? Do the same in your card. Use images, graphics, or details that will make your target customers want to look again and again in your cards. Only, do it on a smaller scale in your cards. You don’t need to be too elaborate in your design. Just make it sticky and memorable.

One of the greatest areas for confusion for business owners is understanding that there are actually two types of marketing… strategic and tactical. Once a business owner understands and accepts that there are in fact two types of marketing, then the challenge becomes understanding the difference between the two and what comes first.

Most business owners only operate on a tactical marketing level and never really understand that you must work on the strategic side first if you’re going to get extraordinary results with your marketing efforts. They mistakenly assume that when you talk about marketing, you’re automatically talking about “Tactical” marketing – placing ads, generating leads, sending out mailers, attending trades shows, creating brochures, implementing a follow-up system, and so forth.

So, what is the difference between strategic and tactical marketing?

Strategic Marketing has to do with what you say, how you say it and who you say it to. It’s the content of your messages to your target market and the positioning of your brand, product and service.

The tactical marketing plan, on the other hand, has to do with the execution of the strategic plan as far as generating leads, placing media, and implementing a follow-up system.

This distinction between strategic and tactical marketing strategies is huge and one you need to be completely aware of anytime you start to talk about marketing.

There is a new trend in marketing which involves making sure that marketing efforts are done along environmentally responsible lines. This is occurring as it is being realized that not only manufacturing activities need to be environmentally conscientious. Marketing represents an entire other area of business activity that can have an impact on the environment as well.

With this in mind the following are some ways to promote your business in an environmentally responsible manner.

Organic Promotional Items

One common way to promote a business is to give customers cheap or free gifts with the name and logo of a company on them, or to allow them to circulate in some way. These are called promotional items and they are recognized as a very effective marketing method. The customer gets some item that already has value and uses it often, thus being exposed repeatedly to the name. Others with whom they come into contact are also made aware of this business this way.

Common types of items of this sort are pens, calendars, coffee mugs, T-shirts, pencil sharpeners, and the like. Any of these items that are produced in an environmentally responsible manner represent a green promotional method. And with the growing trend toward protection of the environment and ecologically sound methods of production, finding products of this sort is fairly easy. Contact manufacturers of eco-friendly pens, T-shirts made from sustainable fibres, organically produced paper, and also items made from recycled material. You can even find key chains made from bamboo or recycled tires!

Viral marketing is essentially word-of-mouth marketing with a digital twist. For many marketers and other professionals in the marketing industry, it is the one of the most effective and efficient methods to market a brand, product or services. Think about it for a second. Why spend thousands, if not millions of dollars, just to launch a fancy advertising campaign that covers print, radio, TV and banner ads, when you can go for viral marketing and spend next to nothing? Why work too hard when your followers and patrons can do the work for you?

It certainly gets you thinking doesn’t it?

Viral marketing campaigns are all about laying the groundwork, and letting it run on its own with the help of your target consumers. It’s called viral marketing because the way word of it spreads is just like a virus. Everyone who hasn’t seen it wants to see it and those who have seen want to share it with those who haven’t. Indeed, it’s a very powerful marketing method-far more powerful than any other platform in the world of conventional advertising.

So, now for the ever important question…How should you launch a viral marketing campaign for your brand?

Let’s cover a number of ways for you to get started.

Get a Reaction

Both large and small businesses are quickly learning that one of the fastest ways to directly reach consumers is through their mobile devices. A recent report by Borrell Associates, a media research firm based in Virginia, has revealed that small businesses in the United States are on track to spend nearly $ 800 million in 2011 in mobile ads. Half of the cost, approximately $ 400 million, will go to the creation of mobile promotions that offer contests, coupons and other incentives.

There are more than 64 million mobile users in the U.S. and they often use their devices to buy goods and services. Consumers prefer to use mobile devices for banking, travel, shopping, watching videos and listening to music. They also prefer to pay their financial transactions through them. The mobile payment or m-payments as they are known in the industry will be worth 240 billion dollars worldwide in 2011 and is a trend that can reach over a trillion dollars by 2015.

So how can you make the most of this growing trend? Small business owners need to plan specific campaigns that reach consumers on their mobile devices. Text messaging or SMS is a great way to do so. It offers instant communication and instant gratification. It is imperative that customers receive something of value. What else can you do to maximize their mobile marketing efforts with limited resources?

Whenever I speak with my photographer friends, I often hear the exact same complaint. Namely that they’re very talented photographers, so why can’t they get more wedding bookings? I go on to remind them that they are not just photographers, but also business owners. It is this fundamental lack of awareness about the importance of business and marketing acumen that holds back so many talented photographers. I have seen so many average photographers out there who are fully booked and enjoying high incomes. I think the core differences are down to focus and marketing skills. So what marketing tips would I give other photographers looking to increase their bookings? Here are some of my top tips:

Read Business Books, and lots of them! – There is a golden rule in life- learn or die! I think whatever area you are looking to improve on in your personal or business life you need to put your focus on. This means either attending specific business training courses or reading business books. There are so many useful business books available on every area of the subject, including marketing, finance and networking. The lessons you learn from one single book could make a massive impact on your bottom line. Commit to being a lifetime learner and reader!

Your company has invested sizable money on determining who your key customers are. But after that, what happens next? In this day and age where hundreds and even thousands of new businesses are born every hour or so, consumers are constantly bombarded by ads and commercials. From print, radio and to the Internet, there is always a company who wants to grab the customers’ attention. So how can your business make sure that it is always on the right track when it comes to effective selling and marketing of your brand, its image and the products or services that you want to provide to your target market?

Know What Your Customers Like

It is never enough to massively advertize your company to the market. Customers will respond better to things that they really like. So take the next step in your market research by really digging into what they want. If they want cheeseburgers, do not give them the benefits of eating pasta as they will surely go somewhere else for what they like in the first place. The same mindset should be followed if you give them promotional items. For example, if you are in the sports and fitness industry, it would benefit you more if you distribute promotional pedometer rather than the standard key ring or pens because the pedometers are items that your target market is sure to use and, more importantly, appreciate.

Keep It Easy For Them