8 ESSENTIAL MARKETING QUESTIONS BUSINESSES SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES
You know you should have a business/marketing plan. But what should be in it? Sit down with yourself and your marketing colleagues, should you have them, and answer the below questions honestly.
What are my main marketing objectives?
Is your priority to grow your customer base? To be more visible? To grow your social media audience? Map out a plan and rank your priorities before you dive into any marketing campaign.
What is your brand strategy?
What do you stand for as a company? What experience do you bring to your customers? Iron out what you want that to be and follow through with it with every marketing piece you create.
How are you developing your product?
Be sure to market to your customers in a way that is tailored to them. That could mean a social media strategy for younger customers, and a print campaign for older advertisers. Determine what strategies are a fit for your varied customer base.
Who are you targeting?
Speaking of your customers, do you know who they are? Who you want them to be? Utilizing analytics is essential in this effort. It helps to identify target demographics, consumer behaviors, opinions and trends.
How will you keep the customers you have?
While attracting new customers is always important, there also needs to be a consistent effort made to retain those you’ve earned. Are you tracking responses to your social media posts, website visits and the like? Do you know what is working and why?
How successful are you?
Revenue is often thought to be the measure stick here. Also consider newsletter sign-up numbers, email inquiries and online engagement.
How can you surpass your competition?
Your ear needs to be open to the consumer market. Do you know what competitors are doing better than you? What customers say they are lacking? Track this and see how you can provide needs to potential new customers and improve upon the services and product lines you offer.
Are you getting referrals?
If you answered “yes,” are they in the range you’d like to see? Be sure you’re asking fans of your business to shout you out to friends and family, and to leave positive reviews on social media.
Need help? Social Clover Marketing is a labor of love developed by Tricia Williams, an entrepreneur with experience in e-commerce, small business strategy, marketing and advertising. Services include social media management, developing marketing strategy, SEO and advertising concepts, design and mobilization. Connect at 610.223.7102 or online at socialclovermarketing.com.
