Ten Nuggets for Successful Marketing
By: Mershon Niesner | Posted: 23rd May 2005
One of the keys to successful marketing is to use a variety of marketing strategies. It's not enough to have a web site OR network regularly OR send out monthly press releases. You must combine a variety of marketing techniques to reach a broad audience. Here are 10 possibilities….see what works for you.
1. Network, network, network - networking is the number one marketing strategy for successful entrepreneurs. Talk about your business to anyone who will stand still for a minute. Get "out there" in real space and cyber space everyday and meet people.
2. Develop a half hour presentation - a more formal way to network is speaking to groups of people (you'll get to talk to more than one person at a time this way). Develop an interesting presentation on a topic that you know best.. Talk to groups that are made up of your target audience i.e Women In Careers, Rotary International, Chamber of Commerce.
3. Teach - whether you prefer a virtual or actual classroom, teach what you know and position yourself as an expert. Develop excellent materials, a great outline, then begin to teach 1 hour, 1/2 day, full day, or multiple day workshops.
4. Publish a newsletter - email or printed newsletters are an excellent marketing vehicle. They are considered a news source, they have pass-through (forwarding) value, they give consistency to your marketing program, they soft-sell your services, they are an excellent attraction source that give something extra, they allow people to get to know you and establish you as the expert.
5. Write a column - contact your local daily, weekly or monthly newspaper editor and talk to him/her about writing a regular column. Send a sample column and assure them that you will produce (that is usually their main concern). Also consider writing a column for a web site or ezine.
6. Take your column on the road - now that you have the credibility of a column, contact newspaper editors around the country and establish columns in their papers as well. Don't reinvent the wheel, just send the same.
7. Send out regular press releases – whether the news is about you and/or your company and employees, press releases can generate free exposure in local newspapers, newsletters and other publications. Think of an interesting hook so the story will be "publishable". Don't try to write an entire story…just send enough information to provide interest and facts…the reporter will take it from there.
8. Develop an email data base – the greatest value of a web site is often the email database that it generates. Once you have a data base, you can send valuable information and announcements on a regular basis without incurring postage/printing costs. Obtain the email of everyone you meet!
9. Have a great identity package – don't spare the expense when it comes to designing and printing your business cards, letterhead/envelopes and other basic identity pieces. They are your first, and often, lasting impression.
10. Integrate the principles of attraction into your life - attract others to you because of who you are. Create a life where you have enough time, money, joy, love that you can afford to give it away. As you become less needy, others will be attracted to you and the circle begins…you're even more fulfilled.
Coaching tip
Write a mini-marketing plan for the next quarter incorporating a variety of marketing ideas.
Track your results and see what works best for you
About the Author
Mershon Niesner, PCC, CPCC Professional Certified Coach Author of Ribbons of Love
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Tags: credibility, half hour, target audience, marketing strategy, successful marketing, marketing strategies, successful entrepreneurs, marketing techniques, consistency, excellent marketing, chamber of commerce, cyber space, marketing program, newsletter email, news source