3 ways to Jumpstarting Your Business
3 ways to Jumpstarting Your Business
How to Create a Marketing Action Plan Without Really Creating One
Nickcole Byrd, RealWomenCoaching.Com
Marketing your business is crucial in trying to increase your client or customer base. New business owners, entreprenuers and even the most seasoned business professional, today are still struggling with deciding on the right tools to increase their client base. Most new business owners have to deal with tight budgets that dictate marketing needs in most start-ups and because of limited funds marketing is neglected. Not to mention, understanding marketing activities and choosing the one that is result driven creates an incredible learning curve for those that are not savvy to the marketing process.
There is absolutely no reason for not marketing your product or service. With today’s proliferation of social media tools, and other Internet resources the financial benefits of marketing should motivate the business owner to plan and implement without delay.
Marketing is not under any circumstances a one time commitment. Marketing has to take place even in lucrative times. The key to marketing is CONSISTENCY. When you release a new product and or services time is of the essence. Instead of developing a full blown marketing plan this article will assist you in developing a marketing strategy using an effective marketing action plan. The outline will be a great blueprint for planning the phases of your marketing program in the future.
#1
First, before creating your action plan, list 3-5 detailed goals you wish to have accomplished when the plan is completed.
Some examples would be:
- “I want to increase my customer base by 20 extra clients/customers in the next 60-90 days.”
- “I am going to add a new service(s) to increase my profits by 500.00 per month.”
- “I want to drive clients to my website to create awareness about my product and or service.”
These goals will bring focus and structure to your action plan and give you a clear way to measure the progress your action plan has made. These goals will give you a good sense of what is working and what is not.
#2
Second, reassess your current target market. Do not be afraid of a little research. The data gathered will help you measure the buying habits of your customer and understand consumer behavior as it relates to your product and or service. A great exercise for this to describe in detail your customer and be creative and very specific.
Try this!
Faith Moses 35, black single Christian woman has been laid of from her long term employer. She is interested in changing her career or even starting a business. Faith attends church services regularly and is an active volunteer. Faith is interested in doing something new, fresh and tapping into her creative side.
#3
Next in the outline, you may begin develop some actual marketing ideas for reaching your target market.
Low budget ideas are:
Electronic Newsletters- Constant Contact is a great tool to get and stay in contact with your client base.
Seminars-creating a workshop to expand your business will definitely generate leads. Seminars can be thirty minutes to an hour. Handouts, worksheets, and other marketing pieces can be used. After a seminar, questions are still going to be asked and those are the clients you want to come to you.
Teleclasses- I love this idea! Right from your computer you conduct a teleclass. Sign up with Free conference. Com. You get a free number and every thing. In addition, for about $6.50 you can share your presentation that you have on your desktop with your participants.
And of course, you have to participate in the Social Media Craze! Face Book, Twitter, Linked In, to name a few is an awesome way to begin to build your network and your client base.
Banner Ad Placements- Banner ad placements can drive even more sales to your company . Creating a banner ad consistent with your already in place website, “You do already have a website? Then you can post on other sites that have high traffic of customers that is visited by your target market. Examples of this would be, if you are an interior designer, you probably will place banner ad placements on Home Depot Sites, HGTV etc.
CPC (cost per click programs) are ideal for those who are anxious about selling products as opposed to branding your company. Cost per impressions is a great pick if you’re creating a campaign for a non profit etc.
Implement this action plan and you are on your way to jumpstarting your marketing action plan.
Nickcole Byrd, MBA is a professional Women’s Life and Business Coach with over 10 years experience in business and personal development. Her career as a professional coach has afforded her many opportunities to help top level women professionals. For a coaching session or to join a coaching mentoring group mailing list go to: www. realwomencoaching.com.
