 |
Improve Your Marketing Results With These Simple Steps
Author: Anidhanta  | Posted: 26-03-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 11 | Rating: (51)  (?) 
What if there were things you could start doing now that could help you to market more successfully in the future? Even if you didn’t have your marketing act quite together over the past year? Well, there are. Review your past marketing results
What if there were things you could start doing now that could help you to market more successfully in the future? Even if you didn’t have your marketing act quite together over the past year? Well, there are. Review your past marketing results
Take some time to review all of your marketing activities and try to understand which ones worked best. And when I say “worked best” I mean, which ones resulted in more clients, more customers, more sales, or more growth for your business?
Your goal each year should be to understand which marketing activities bring you more business and which ones do not, so you can concentrate on the activities that work, and delete the ones that do not. Even if you did not have an organized marketing plan, or marketing activities that you implemented consistently during the past year, if you are still in business today, then there must have been some form of marketing going on.
Marketing isn’t only things like running an advertisement, or sending out a direct mail piece. (See “Is That Really Considered Marketing?” below to better understand all the different forms that marketing can take. You may be surprised to realize you’ve been marketing more than you know!)
Direct vs. Indirect Tracking
Take a look at what you did do. Can you directly or indirectly track any new or increased business to these activities? An example of direct tracking might be: You attended a networking event and someone you gave your business card to, contacted you or made a purchase.
An example of indirect tracking might be: You attended a networking event, and someone you gave your business card to, referred you to a friend, and that friend contacted you or made a purchase. For each marketing activity you did over the past year, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Did I get any new clients, customers or increased sales as a direct result, or an indirect result, of this activity?
2. If the answer is yes, quantify the result by asking yourself: How many new clients, customers or sales did it generate?
At the end of this exercise, you will have a list of all of your marketing activities, and the results connected to each one. Which activities brought you the most business? Are there any activities on your list that did not result in new or additional business?
Use what you learn to plan future marketing Use this information as you begin to plan your marketing for next year. Plan to spend more time, energy and/or money on those activities that brought you business and sales. Delete those activities that did not. If you don’t have any way to track your sales or new clients, don’t worry. What does your gut tell you about where your new business came from? Additionally, see the Question of the Week for tips on uncovering marketing results even if you didn’t track very well. And if nothing else, be glad that you now know what you need to do next year to ensure your future marketing success.
Is That Really Considered Marketing?
Any time you talk to someone about your business, product or service, in person, at an event, over the phone, or through a brochure or some form of media, you are marketing. Any time you send someone an email or a thank you card from your business, you are marketing.
Be aware of any time you are communicating with current customers, or potential customers. Take the opportunity to make them aware of new products or services, special offers or programs, or even milestones or changes in your business. Do you include your business card every time you mail a letter to a client or prospect? Do you have an email signature that includes your business name, your phone number, your email address, your website address and possibly even your tagline? You should. You are reminding people about your products and services and making it easy for them to find out more if they so choose. If you truly believe that your products or services can enhance people’s lives, then it should be easy to share the word at every opportunity. After all, if people don’t know about you, they can’t benefit. Put this way, it is almost a disservice to NOT market.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/international-business-articles/improve-your-marketing-results-with-these-simple-steps-369720.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Work at home Job?
By: JD | 09-08-2008
Does anyone know of a legitimate, scam free work at home job? I have searched and come up empty. Please if you know of anything let me know. Thank you.
My husband is a stockbroker in Florida. We have ...
By: tisme | 09-08-2008
My husband is a stockbroker in Florida. We have been hit very hard by the accelerated real estate crash in our area (2nd in the nation for foreclosures) and as a result of tenant vacancies and inability to liquidate investement properties ahead of the bow wave of declining values he now has nearly 7 properties in foreclosure. I am extremely concerned about the mortgage companies pursuing him for deficiency judgements. There is just no way he could pay all of them if they are granted to the creditor and goes to collection. He says he can't file for bankruptcy because he will lose his stock broker license. I think a bankruptcy is less risky then having all the foreclosures on his credit and the possiblity of judgements/collections against him. What can he do to protect his license?
Smc
By: molly | 22-06-2008
yes i would like 2 know the compancy smc is 4 real ? thank you
Family Business as a Job
By: MarilynBB | 21-06-2008
Would you like to work in a business run by one of your family members? Why or why not?
I need your help
By: Betty | 19-06-2008
has anyone found any data or typing job online that is legitimate that you can do from home. I need to find a job that i can do from home if you can help I would appreciate it
Looking for work online
By: Betty | 17-06-2008
Has any one found any typing or data jobs that are legitimate that you can work from home. I need to find a job that I can do from home. I lost my husband my income was cut so now I need to find a job right away can someone help me
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest International Business Articles
Few Select Mailing List Building Tactics
By: MEHANGA SINGH | 07/10/2008
Building an opt in mailing list of responsive subscribers is mandatory in order to fully optimize the profit gaining potential of your internet business. Therefore, discussed below are a few opt in mailing list building tactics that will help you to start building your own very responsive income generating opt in mailing list to take your income to the next level.
Company That Understand Your Moving Needs
By: Brooke Thom | 07/10/2008
Seeking for a company that can offer you the best moving services worldwide? If yes then there are lots of things which need to understand before moving overseas decision like smooth, timely and cheapest delivery of your valuable possessions. For gathering all these minute details you need to hire the expertise moving company like Shipping International who can through evaluate and deliver the best worldwide moving services. We are concerned about our client's specific overseas moving needs and
Easytrade to Help Sme Overcome Trade Cold Winter Days
By: jooyaoo | 06/10/2008
Easytrade To Help SME Overcome Trade Cold winter Days
China LED Market Sourcing and Application Report 2007
By: David | 06/10/2008
As LED technology continues developing and shows advantages of low consumption, long life-span and environmental protection, its application has shifted from initial indicator light to such more potential fields as display panels, illumination, backlight, automobile lights and traffic lights, etc.
Online Merchants - How to Protect Your Company From Credit Card Fraud
By: KE Inc | 05/10/2008
Whether you are new to ecommerce or a seasoned site owner, please read our article regarding how to protect your online business, and more importantly, your company's reputation.
Choosing Cookware Sets
By: Mike Dire | 05/10/2008
When selecting a cookware set there are things you need to have and things you want to have. You need to decide what material, how many pieces, etc. Your knowledge and cooking expertise will play a huge role as well. This article will help you decide what you need to get the job done right.
Mining Opportunities in the State of Amazonas, Brazil
By: Denis Benchimol Minev | 03/10/2008
Interview regarding mining opportunities in the state of Amazonas, Brazil.
Understanding Active Vs. Passive Marketing
By: Robert Johnston | 02/10/2008
How much do you understand the difference between active and passive marketing? If you want to make good use of both of them you need to be aware of what both of these encompass and how they affect your marketing.
More from Anidhanta
Advertising Your Home Business With Pay Per Click Can be Risk
By: Anidhanta | 29/03/2008 | Online Business
An unfortunate byproduct of the pay per click advertising
business is click fraud. Many people with an online business
spend large amounts of money on pay per click advertising only to
discover that many of the people clicking on their ads weren't
really interested in their products or services.
Holiday Depression – Five Easy Tips for Beating the Post-holiday Blues
By: Anidhanta | 28/03/2008 | Internet Marketing
People have different experiences during the Holiday Season. For many it is a time of joy, peace, good will and optimistic hope for the New Year. For others it is a time of self-evaluation, to reflect on the past, or to review accomplishments and failures
The Do’s and Don’ts of Giving Feedback
By: Anidhanta | 28/03/2008 | Management
Being able to give effective feedback is not just a good skill to possess in business, it is a great life skill to have. Because when you are masterful at giving feedback, not only can you help your employees to sustain continuously improving performance, you can also improve the performance of the baseball team you coach, the cleaning lady at home, or the performance of your own children on completing their chores
The Writing Club
By: Anidhanta | 27/03/2008 | Writing
Typically when falling asleep in bed at night great thoughts enter the mind, long stringed and meaningful sentences trip over each other to receive attention at the front of the brain alongside all the brilliant findings, results, meanings that speak volumes and hard hitting phrases that are just the ticket to open the door to success.
Five Tips to Obtain Credit for Small Businesses
By: Anidhanta | 27/03/2008 | Management
As many small business owners know, financing is crucial to the financial health of their enterprise. While some small business owners have the resources to launch their business, most look to the credit market for financial help. Indeed, the banking industry is an important source to gain necessary capital.
7 Power Habits to Guarantee Financial Independence
By: Anidhanta | 26/03/2008 | Business Opportunities
Are you always running short of your funds? Do you still have to borrow money sometimes to at least live comfortably? Do you get to pay your bills on time?
If you answered mostly yes, then you are in danger of being financially unstable. You cannot afford the things you want and sometimes, even the things you need.
Small Business Investments
By: Anidhanta | 24/03/2008 | Home Business
State laws have been relaxed to make it easier for small business to raise start-up and growth financing from the public. Many investors view this as an opportunity to “get in on the ground flora€ of an emerging business and to “hit it big†as the small businesses grow into large ones.
Making Freelance Writing Niche Types Fit
By: Anidhanta | 24/03/2008 | Writing
Our Freelance Writing Needs Defined
We must make freelance niche types fit our needs, wants, values and lifestyles, and we also must make ourselves fit freelance niche types. Of our waking hours, we work more than we do anything else. I keep this in mind when college students come to me concerned about what to do for a living, and I tell them (because I want them happy) to do what they love. I also tell them (because I believe in the truth) to do what they are good at.
|
|
Business 
