Here’s a marketing check list, for those of you who want to start seeing some fast, measurable marketing results.
Your answers to the questions of this simple check list, will give you some idea of just how ready you are to successfully compete for business, in today’s highly competitive marketing environment.
Ready? OK, let’s go!
Marketing check list
- Do I have permission to market to these people?
- Is there a genuine reason why they should buy from me, rather than their current provider?
- How motivating is that reason – Is it powerful enough to compel them to switch?
- Will my marketing message REALLY stand out among the avalanche of marketing offers being directed to these people right now?
- Am I going to use a strategic approach, where a series of preplanned messages are delivered in order to generate a compound effect – or will I ‘just try’ some one-off marketing emails, mailshots, ads etc ?
- If people decide to check out my website or blog after receiving my marketing, will it project the kind of polished, professional image required to gain their confidence and their business?
- Will the message they get from my site compel them to want to take action; to call me, email me, visit my premises etc?
- If not, should I think about getting my marketing copy writing written by a professional?
- Do I have a social media marketing strategy, which will attract bankable results, (rather than just follows / adds / friends etc?)
- Do I have a way to effectively measure my marketing results?
- How worried would my competitors be right now, if they knew my answers to the above questions?
Now what?
The point of this simple check list, is to help you identify how prepared you are. It’s not enough to ‘just’ work hard on your marketing; you need to ensure you are working hard doing the correct things for what you want to achieve. Whatever you do, don’t be like the masses of small businesses, that look to the future with their fingers crossed – hoping things will somehow “just work out”.
If you are looking for marketing ideas, this post contains links to dozens of marketing ideas and 2 articles on how to develop your own marketing mix.
If you plan ahead and work smart, you can make this a breakthrough time for you and your business – but don’t leave anything to chance!
Photo: Koalazmonkey
Another thing to add to that list is to read your blog.
You have become an integral part of my marketing these past few months and I am eternally greatful for all that you do for us.
THANK YOU Jim
That’s kind of you to say Debbie. You’re very welcome!
Excellent list of questions, Jim. The last four questions are top-shelf.
Any commercially-minded person asking just these four questions honestly – and immediately implementing the answers – should expect bankable results.
“Bankable results” is an expression that I shall immediately adopt.
Best, Robin
I believe 2010 will be the year that small businesses wake up to the fact that social media needs to generate bankable results.
Follows, adds, fans and being friended are great – but from a sales perspective, unless you know how to transform them into something BANKABLE, there’s little point.
Thanks Robin.
Jim, very good post. Just about to use it to for my plans for 2010!
Robin – thanks for pointing out the phrase – I would’ve missed it otherwise!
S
Good morning, Jim
I’m back with more confessions of How GREAT your blogs actually is.. You are a very inspiring person for many and have great knowledge of what You write about…
I hope to be a friend for this 2010.. and share your blog with those of my small network of friends!
Thank You
for understanding
Love the question in bold at the end, Jim – perfect “finale” to the leads beforehand. Putting lists and ideas together is fine, but unless it’s something that’s going to make your competitors go “wow” – and, in return, your potential customers – then a lot of it can just be smoke and mirrors.
Cheers as always for some great thoughts!
Hello my friend – thanks for popping by the blog.
BTW: I noticed that you changed your layout recently too Danny, over at http://dannybrown.me I really like your new look – clean, clear and easy to read.
Thanks for the feedback sir.
Hi Jim,
All great points! I think it is critically important the small business owner knows who his customer is? We tend to fall into the trap of believing we want to market to everybody and anybody. The key is is to market to as many people in our niche market as possible.
In addition, although social media is crucial for a lot of small business owners especially if they are marketing a service, we still must consider how we can utilize traditional marketing in our overall strategy and integrate it in our social media strategy.
Much success to you in 2010!
I’m a marketing professional – not a social media guy. I see social media as an extremely useful marketing tool; but just a tool. It’s one part of a marketing mix.
Thanks for the feedback Danielle!
Hi Jim
Thanks for this checklist! I was just saying to myself that this year marketing will be at the top of my list! I know what my products are (in two different but somehow connected categories…) and yet I have never put an emphasis on marketing. I was scared of it – thinking someone else could do it for me! Your questions are exactly what I need so thanks again.
BTW – I didn’t get a voice recorder because I didn’t find one Mac compatible in Israel where I live , yet, but I did realize my not long ago updated cell phone has an excellent one and I started to use it and it’s great! Thought you’d like to hear that. Happy New Year!
It is quite amazing to know how marketing worked before online marketing – I mean… I’ve heard cases of hundreds of thousands of dollars spent printing big ads to be placed on public buses, billboards etc… without any real results (or even real way to track the effectiveness of the campaign)
So many companies really need to re-read your 2nd last question and digest it – how to measure the effectiveness of a marketing campaign?
Online marketing makes it a lot easier, but still, there is still need to take effort to track it!
Thank you so much Jim, amm my best wishes for this new promissing decade.
-Y