OK, if you're not going to hire me to develop your 2005 ... ... plan for you I have a few ... that you may not have ... as part of your ... ... course, you
OK, if you're not going to hire me to develop your 2005 marketing communication plan for you I have a few suggestions that you may not have considered as part of your marketing arsenal.
Of course, you already have a company name, a positioning statement, logo, stationery, business cards and a website.
Right?
The next thing I suggest is an employee survey. Ask them about what's happening where the company meets the customer.
Find out how employees feel about the company. A recent survey shows that employee attitudes have a huge impact upon a company's bottom line. Motivated employees provide great service, and great service can separate you from your competitors.
Next, develop a customer retention program. It costs five times more to develop a new customer as it does to keep an old one. E-newsletters are an essential part of my customer retention program. Sign up for my e-newsletter at http://www.hoover-ink.com.
Finally, here is a random list of other items that can be considered part of your marketing arsenal.
- your reputation
- advertising
- consultations, demonstrations, seminars, samples
- community involvement, cause marketing, philanthropy
- media contacts, bylined articles, op-ed pieces
- guest speaking program
- great working environment
- employee development program
- networking, referrals
- contests
- customer surveys
- special events
If your time for 2005 marketing related tasks is limited, take some advice from my marketing mentor: pick three things from above and do them right.
Marketing's Magic Bullet
Do you believe there is a marketing magic bullet? A lot of people do.Pump Up Your Brain
According to Nobel prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling, the best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas. Unfortunately, school teaches us to find the right answer, when actually there is usually more than one right answer for a problem.My New Business Secret Formula
We’ve talked here often about the fact that there is no marketing magic bullet. But there is a new business magic bullet, and I’m going to tell you the secret formula. Only a handful of those who read this will successfully implement within their business because it is not shiny and new.