5 Suprisingly Effective Ways To Boost Your Marketing Strategy

Creating a marketing strategy can be a complicated process, due to the need for metrics, analytics, a brand identity, and up-to-the-minute reporting. However, a few playful and surprisingly effective methods can help boost your current plan. 1. Promotional products Chotchkies and trinkets emblazoned with your logo aren't just for trade shows. They can be a powerful tool in your marketing strategy to help current customers spread the word about your services and products. The key is in a smart pairing of item to your ideal customer. Pick a helpful tool that they would enjoy using and might share with a colleague or friend. A good quality pen is always a trusty option, but think bigger. An eye doctor might provide a keychain flashlight. A printer could provide creative paper clips. Picture your customer and a type of small item that could help them in a daily task, then put your logo on it. 2. Memes While known for their comic side, memes can also provide a serious message, making them versatile and effective. With simple design software, they can be easily created using stock photos and a good font. They also can help bump your social media sharing by huge numbers. Good memes are not only easy to share, they are fun to send to friends and family. With a regular posting schedule, you can create a following on social sites. The memes could feature jokes providing a cautionary tale of those that didn't use your professional services or products, or they could be a straight-forward, helpful series of tips for the public. A marketing firm can help tailor the style to your brand image. 3. Branded cars Any company that uses a car or truck for their business should already have their name and logo in big, readable letters down the sides and back. However, even those that don't traditionally use vehicles to provide their products or services can jump on the branded car wagon. While a cost analysis is necessary to make sure it will make sense for your marketing strategy, if your business requires travel of any kind (think commute) or is in a high-density area, then giving people something to look at while stuck in traffic could be a boon. It can't be counted on to boost direct sales, but can help spread the word about your service and particular company. Often, those with branded cars notice spiked web searches and social media likes wherever their car is. You can take it one step further and even name the car and make its own social page for people to follow. 4. Street boards Street board marketing has been around for centuries, but it can be just as effective as modern, high-tech marketing strategy options. Especially if your business is in a high-traffic area, a street board can help draw attention to your business. With a carefully crafted, short message, it can attract passing pedestrians and give them a call to action. They are most often thought of for coffee shops and bakeries to mention the special of the day, but can be used for a wide range of businesses. A small professional services company, such as a CPA, could mention deals for tax preparation. An automotive garage can mention seasonal offers, like winterization of a vehicle. With the right placement and design, a street board can grab customers that were only intending to pass right by your shop. 5. Blogging Blogging is one of the best ways to boost a marketing strategy. While it does require dedication and fresh ideas, it is a way to reach out to your customer base and potential customers alike with good information that sets you up as an authority in your field. Blogging is also easier and more casual than drafting a traditional white paper or newsletter. The tone can be conversational, the message brief, and the topic can be limited to one thing. However, it is necessary to be consistent with posts. Often, the best post ideas come from the reasons you love your business, questions you recently received from a customer, or a new product on the market. If you need help, a marketing agency can formulate a posting schedule and set up a blog for you. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8784275

3 Top Internet Marketing Strategies for the Small Business

A well thought-out marketing strategy is crucial for the small business to help generate the desired publicity and maximize sales. Even though a small business can rely on a variety of offline advertising techniques, it is still helpful to use a variety of internet marketing techniques. Engaging in a varied mix of strategies is the most effective approach for the bricks-and-mortar or web-based business. Here are three of the effective online marketing strategies that can help the small business grow: Search Engine Search engine marketing is a highly effective way for the small business to attract interest and get seen in the search results. Because a lot of web users rely on the search engines to find the right products both locally and online, a company needs to be in a high position in the search engine for relevant keywords or phrase related to the product or service offered. Many marketing firms that specialize in this area are certain to provide a search engine optimization (SEO) service that is certain to help increase the natural rankings in the major search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc). Local Search In addition to SEO for the general search results, there is also an option for offline businesses to use local search to promote a service or product in the local area. Local listings incorporate extra features, such as maps, which can be used to highlight the specific location of the business premises. Also, the search results page can include full business details including company name, address, phone number, directions, opening hours, and reviews. Getting a business clearly listed on the first page using local search is certain to help boost the business prospects. Social Media Social media marketing is a further effective tool that can help promote the business and simplify the process of staying connected with customers. Using the social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+, etc) to promote the business can be quite tricky. Integrating social media into the marketing plan can differ with the different types of businesses. Social media can give a great opportunity to touch base with customers and inform them of special news, deals, or promotions. A well-planned social media campaign is certain to help with strengthening the customer base and increase the chance of getting a high volume of returning customers. Certain areas of internet marketing will be more effective than others, so it is crucial to test the various options to see which generates the most positive results. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8789111