Sunday, 22 July 2012

How to plan a small business promotional strategy

By Andreina Garcia


Understanding your clients and developing a plan that fits those needs is vital when it comes to developing a small business marketing strategy. The best way to market a small business is to create a program that mixes sales activities with promoting tactics.

It is extremely commonplace that small business owners don't think about a proper advertising strategy due to money issues. It only means that a little creativity is required. Here are five steps to create a strategic and practical marketing plan.

1) Position Your Product

Many entrepreneurs don't know the difference between promotion, advertising, and public relations. It's very important to have the right product for your market and selling it for an amount that seems a good deal for your customers.

It's also necessary to create an acceptable image across multiple platforms, including direct mail, flyers, brochures, and postcards, Television or radio spots, newspaper or mag advertisements, or a web presence with a free business website and more.

And ultimately it is essential to disburse your product to locations where your target customers can find it.

2) Define your market and competition

Set up some counselling meetings with consultants you trust (family, friends, staff, or other executives). Describe the type and size of your marketplace, how sales and distribution work, your dream customer (age, earnings, locations, and purchase patterns) and how your products rate against your competitors.

3) Listen to your customers

To discover what customers think, just ask them. Judge the views of your current purchasers as well as shoppers you wish to reach. Make private calls or send them surveys thru e-mail. Include an inducement to promise collaboration, for example a reduction or a sample. Based on what you learn, prepare a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threads analysis.

4) Put down your method

With an overview of buyers and market conditions on mind, you can begin with a commentary on your market position and goals and a definition of your expectations in a particular time period.

Then add a list of target markets, including division and niche areas and develop an appropriate methodology for each segment or market. Which desires your product of service will solve. Think also about costs and resources, and how they'll be billed.

Select the distribution and promotion vehicles that you will use to draw in your possible customers and anticipate possible responses for your toughest rivals.

5) Track Results

Keep in mind that you must know if your plan works. So figure out the final cost of marketing communications and measure it against explicit sales forecasts. Eventually, be alert. Markets change all the time and you need to be prepared. Make sure to review the plan each year to see if you have to reconsider any goal.




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