6 Steps to Effective Marketing

<h1>6 Steps to Effective Marketing</h1>Author: <a title="Joerg Sieber" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/joerg-sieber/236857.htm">Joerg Sieber</a> When it comes to Marketing, most people spend less time thinking through the process than they spend planning their vacations. This post highlights the key steps you need to follow to make sure your marketing efforts become a success. 1. Define your target market – Who is your ideal client? What are their characteristics? Where can you find them? How can you best approach them? What is the catchiest offer you can develop for your audience? These are some of the questions you need to answer before planning your marketing strategies. 2. Set your Budget – Before planning the actual marketing strategies, make sure you set yourself a budget for marketing. Many businesses spend an average of approximately 20% of their revenues on their marketing efforts. Of key importance here is that you feel ok with the money you want to spend on marketing and stick to your budget! 3. Set your Strategies – Now, that you know your target market and your budget you can start planning out your strategies. Do you want to do some advertising, spend your time on networking, implement a direct mail campaign, or focus on web-based marketing? You may want to do some market research and see what other successful businesses in your industry do to market themselves. Pick a handful of strategies you feel good about and want to implement. 4. Determine your break even for EACH strategy – It is one thing to develop an overall budget, but a very different thing to know the cost for each marketing strategy. In order to know your marketing effectiveness you need to figure out how much each strategy will cost you. This will be your breakeven point for this strategy. The goal then becomes to generate enough clients from each strategy to pass break even. 5. Plan your action items – You need to break down each marketing strategy into action items and steps you need to take. Then you write each action item on a calendar, telling you exactly what you need to do each day to follow your marketing plan. This is probably THE most important part of any marketing plan. 6. Track your success – Now that you have developed your action item list for your marketing efforts it is time to put the plan into action. As you roll out your marketing strategies make sure you are tracking your response to your marketing strategies. You should know which prospect came from which marketing strategy. This will tell you which marketing strategies are successful and which are not.About the Author: Joerg Sieber, founder of Sieber Consulting has combined his 20 years experience as a Sales Trainer, Strategic Marketing Manager, and Entrepreneur with his MBA, BBA and Hotel Management Degree to help today's small business owners improve the operations of their companies.

His experience spans from Hotel Management, to Telecommnications and Business Coaching; from Fortune 500 companies to small start-up businesses; from Europe to the USA.

Joerg Sieber offers systems development for small businesses through Sieber Consulting. His book "Mastering Business Operations" provides business owners with 10 tools to get in control of their companies. He is also a sought-after speaker and has presented to audiences in over 20 countries. Visit his site at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.joergsieber.com">http://www.joergsieber.com</a>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/6-steps-to-effective-marketing-1461326.html" title="6 Steps to Effective Marketing">6 Steps to Effective Marketing</a>

When it comes to Marketing, most people spend less time thinking through the process than they spend planning their vacations. This post highlights the key steps you need to follow to make sure your marketing efforts become a success.

1. Define your target market – Who is your ideal client? What are their characteristics? Where can you find them? How can you best approach them? What is the catchiest offer you can develop for your audience? These are some of the questions you need to answer before planning your marketing strategies.

2. Set your Budget – Before planning the actual marketing strategies, make sure you set yourself a budget for marketing. Many businesses spend an average of approximately 20% of their revenues on their marketing efforts. Of key importance here is that you feel ok with the money you want to spend on marketing and stick to your budget!

3. Set your Strategies – Now, that you know your target market and your budget you can start planning out your strategies. Do you want to do some advertising, spend your time on networking, implement a direct mail campaign, or focus on web-based marketing? You may want to do some market research and see what other successful businesses in your industry do to market themselves. Pick a handful of strategies you feel good about and want to implement.

4. Determine your break even for EACH strategy – It is one thing to develop an overall budget, but a very different thing to know the cost for each marketing strategy. In order to know your marketing effectiveness you need to figure out how much each strategy will cost you. This will be your breakeven point for this strategy. The goal then becomes to generate enough clients from each strategy to pass break even.

5. Plan your action items – You need to break down each marketing strategy into action items and steps you need to take. Then you write each action item on a calendar, telling you exactly what you need to do each day to follow your marketing plan. This is probably THE most important part of any marketing plan.

6. Track your success – Now that you have developed your action item list for your marketing efforts it is time to put the plan into action. As you roll out your marketing strategies make sure you are tracking your response to your marketing strategies. You should know which prospect came from which marketing strategy. This will tell you which marketing strategies are successful and which are not.

Joerg Sieber, founder of Sieber Consulting has combined his 20 years experience as a Sales Trainer, Strategic Marketing Manager, and Entrepreneur with his MBA, BBA and Hotel Management Degree to help today's small business owners improve the operations of their companies. His experience spans from Hotel Management, to Telecommnications and Business Coaching; from Fortune 500 companies to small start-up businesses; from Europe to the USA. Joerg Sieber offers systems development for small businesses through Sieber Consulting. His book "Mastering Business Operations" provides business owners with 10 tools to get in control of their companies. He is also a sought-after speaker and has presented to audiences in over 20 countries. Visit his site at http://www.joergsieber.com

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/6-steps-to-effective-marketing-1461326.html

Article Tags: Market Research, Marketing, Marketing Plan, Action Items, Break Even

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

How to Understand the Marketing Plan

Play

How to Market Books with Bookmarks

Play

Learn About Combining a Business Plan and A Marketing Plan

Play

Google Search Wiki and your Online Marketing Plans

Play

How to Write a Marketing Plan

Latest Small Business Articles
More from Joerg Sieber

How To Potentially Become A Clickbank Super Affiliate

By: Judson Solomon | 22/11/2009
Making money through affiliate marketing is one of the most valuable careers one could ever have. What’s good about this business is that anyone can join and make their alternative to success. Affiliate marketing has been known to be cost-efficient, assessable tactic of conveying long-term results.

cheap TV dual card T800 phone discount at agoodseller.com

By: Andy | 22/11/2009
A report from IMS Research, a global research firm, says that by 2010 there will be 120 million people watching TV programmes on mobile phones. TV Mobile phone will become the "Fifth Media", after newspapers, radio, TVs, and online news. Analysts say Asian customers have taken more readily to new mobile phones

List of Small Business Ideas - Apartment Preparation Service

By: Alvaro Delgado | 22/11/2009
Apartment preparation services help property owners in marketing their apartments for rental. When the old tenant moves out, floors, walls, ceilings need cleaning and light repair, which is where you come in.

Does Craigslist Represent Value To An Online Business?

By: Donald N Lombardi | 22/11/2009
For online business folks who are eager to generate and promote their company products this is a great source and solution. The advertising is free!

The Great VMware Workstation 7 is now available!

By: Eiad Al-Aqqad | 21/11/2009
Well, VMware Workstation 7 is now here. One of the key products of the company in Palo Alto. Not to mention VMware Workstation was the first Virtualization platforms offered for the X86 architecture.

Explore you delight with French Translation

By: Translation Services Delhi | 21/11/2009
It is remarked that French is the language of romance but it is also of science and development. French is spoken by 80 million native speakers and a significant language in 57 countries and in 27 countries, it is official language. There are so many opportunities to develop your business with French people – the unavoidable resource in the business world. The business with French in all sectors as industry, service and infrastructure – in all fields French develops its own place.

Industrial Locksmith Service

By: alijon G Imran | 20/11/2009
Locksmith services will vary depending on the specific type of locksmith you wish to hire. In any case, however, you should obtain expert advice and great results if you hire any qualified fitter, whether they happen to be a car locksmith, commonly known as Auto fitter or residential locksmith. Below is a brief description of the services normally offered common type of locksmith.

Can Shaklee be a Profitable Business?

By: Roxanne King | 20/11/2009
If you are looking for a home business you may have considered a Network Marketing company. Network Marketing can be a great opportunity if you join the right company. There are many new companies that come up and make huge income claims because you are getting in on the “ground floor.” What they don’t tell you is that the chances of this company sticking around very long is not too high. Many new Network Marketing Companies fail everyday, they just can’t make it work.

6 Steps to Effective Marketing

By: Joerg Sieber | 15/11/2009 | Small Business
When it comes to Marketing, most people spend less time thinking through the process than they spend planning their vacations. This post highlights the key steps you need to follow to make sure your marketing efforts become a success.

Market Research - The Basis for Great Marketing

By: Joerg Sieber | 28/10/2009 | Business
When it comes to Marketing, most business owners simply feel the need to throw money at the issue. They don't really understand their market, their competition, or the opportunity out there. Good market research can improve the effectiveness of your efforts significantly. Here are the basics of conducting Market Research.

Goal Setting - An Effective Tool

By: Joerg Sieber | 13/10/2009 | Leadership
When it comes to leading people, setting effective goals that encourage, motivate, and promote employees and colleagues can be one of the most valuable tools in your arsenal. Setting SMART goals is crucial knowledge for any manager and leader.

Organizational Charts - Maps to your Business

By: Joerg Sieber | 28/09/2009 | Organizational
Organizational Charts are very important to any business, yet they are often overlooked or ignored. The right organzitional chart can give your business structure, focus, purpose and clarity. Organizational Charts are the corner stone to a well organized business.

Building Killer Sales Processes

By: Joerg Sieber | 21/09/2009 | Sales
Systemizing Sales in any business is a good idea. This article provides some high-level tips on how to improve sales in your business by developing a step-by-step sales process that guides prospects through the decision process of buying your product or service.