How To Develop A Killer Marketing Strategy
How To Develop A Killer Marketing Strategy
I am all about strategy. Working smarter, not harder, has always been my motto, and in the world of marketing, having an effective strategy is the No. 1 way to do just that. In my experience, these six steps have been at the core of every killer Marketing strategy planning session I’ve been a part of—I hope they do the same for you.
1. Understand Your Company
Many businesses want to jump into the logistics of developing a marketing strategy before laying the groundwork. However, as the saying goes, you can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.
Consider your past marketing strategies—where they’ve succeeded and how they’ve fallen short. I remind my clients that the way they’ve always done things is not necessarily the best way—there is untapped potential waiting behind the strategies you’ve never tried.
2. Know Your Audience
Your clients drive your business forward, and understanding their wants and needs will help to keep your marketing efforts focused and your goals clear.
When determining your target audience, do not just make assumptions. Beyond defining their location, age, gender and income demographics, you should also get an idea of what makes your customer tick.
Understand their interests, their buying motivations and their biggest concerns and complaints with the industry in general. This information could prove to be invaluable in the implementation of your strategy.
3. Perfect Your Brand
To perfect your brand, you must first define your brand. In the world of marketing, the term “branding” does not only refer to your logo. While a logo is a physical representation of your brand, branding itself includes the way people think and feel about your company. When your business name becomes synonymous with the thing you are selling, you know you have a good brand.
