Posts Tagged ‘Marketing’

Marketing your business in times of economic turmoil

Marketing

I’ve had many conversations with many people of late about marketing their business – or for that matter, any business.  It’s true that when times are tough, the first area historically that businesses cut will be their marketing.  And what’s more, they may even decide to do it in-house themselves!  Now why do people believe they can do this?

I heard a great keynote speech recently that went something along the lines of:

“Do you pay a professional Accountant to manage your end of year accounts? Do you pay a professional Financial Advisor to manage your financial affairs?  The answer of course is YES.  So why then do some business people believe that they can cut costs by doing their own marketing?”

The truth is that good times or bad times, marketing is paramount.  Your brand reflects your business, which in turn reflects your reputation.  Refer back to your business strategy and remind yourself why you are doing business?  Where are you headed?  Remind yourself of your long term and short term goals.  It is all only achievable by getting your marketing right.  Here are some tips that don’t cost a fortune that will may help:

  1. Know your goal, know what you want to accomplish
  2. What impression do you want to leave?
  3. When you come across a business with a “home-made” flyer, what’s your first impression?
  4. If you need to increase visitors to your site, make sure you have a way of processing this information, moreover make sure your site makes it easy to do this.
  5. Focus on what you’re good at.  Even more, specialise in what you’re good at, and partner with professional people to cover the areas where your business needs expertise.

The moral of this story is, focus on what you do and do it well.  If you need professional help with your marketing, it doesn’t always cost the earth.  Feel free to drop me a line or call me, I’d be happy to help!

Don't be blond about your marketing

Don't be blond about your marketing

1 Comment » 4 months ago, Alison

Good reasons for marketing an up-to-date website

Marketing, Websites

We are often approached by many new and existing businesses to discuss their website and my point always comes back to – yes have a website, but what do you want (potential) customers to do once they arrive there? Do you want them to email you, call you, or just simply fill out an online form – or even purchase a product? This needs to be obvious on arrival at your website. (more…)

Comments Off 1 year ago, Alison

Planning, designing and marketing your future as a modern graduate.

Marketing

The way I have come to see it, from my short time here at LA Marketing and Design in Shaftesbury, is that as a fresh graduate, the key to success in life follows the same vital ideas and concepts that one needs to create a successful business. First you have to investigate; this process is perhaps the most difficult. It involves looking at yourself and breaking ‘you’ down. Your likes; your dislikes; your skills; your qualities, and finally, where and who these factors may appeal to. Call it a filter. One big business filter. Then follow the marketing process. Marketing: a noun used to describe ‘the skills and functions, including packaging, promotion, and distribution, involved in selling goods” according to the Oxford English Dictionary. When we consider a business, this term may seem obvious, but what about when we apply this as a metaphor to our own career? The most important thing to remember is to play the game in the most successful way possible, and to find a way to stand out from the crowd; this means marketing yourself as if you were a business. If done correctly this will not only prove your abilities, however it will establish a sense of trust between you and your target audience, be it an employer, a company or a client.

Comments Off 1 year ago, Alison

Why businesses should address their marketing in a downturn climate?

Marketing

Many could argue in our current economy that businesses need to zip up their wallet, pull tight the purse strings and cut down their overheads. This could, and should be true – but to a point! There is a fine line between cutting back, and reinvesting what is reasonable to get and keep your business on track. In a downturn one of the first areas of cutting back is marketing, but it shouldn’t be. Marketing is one of the most important exercises a business can do. If you don’t shout about getting your name out there, your competitor will! And you can bet what you like he’ll do it bigger and louder, and so when opportunities arise who’s name will be at the forefront of the potential suppliers list? (more…)

2 Comments » 1 year ago, Alison