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.

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.

Yes, social media presents some of the most powerful and cost effective means of marketing today, especially for small businesses. However it is still incredibly amazing to see so many entrepreneurs and business owners approaching it in completely the wrong way.

If you look at 100 Facebook fan pages today you will probably be lucky to find one or two really doing it right. Still you will likely find a couple of comments on these pages from other businesses who are spamming and are prime examples of the wrong way to do social media marketing.

People are still confusing social media with old, traditional forms of advertising in which they pitch and hard sell the public in the hope they can convince them to buy. This is not what social media is about. In fact that isn’t what most marketing should be about anymore. Savvy marketers are realizing that it is simply much better to be in the right place at the right time and be there for consumers who are actually interested in what you have to offer instead of spamming the masses with annoying messages that they have no interest in.

People are open to interacting and following businesses online if marketing is done right. Craft the right message and they will come to you and be thankful for your communications.