Six marketing strategies to stay ahead of the curve

Just when you think you have marketing mastered, a new trend or piece of tech arrives that throws everything into confusion. It can be difficult to navigate the sea of marketing information online, which is why we have assembled this list of six strategies to ensure smooth sailing.

 

Having an overall strategy is important, but it can be difficult to balance everything on top of your current workload. This is where marketing strategy consultants come in, resolving all the hassle for you. We recommend looking online for established professionals, such as https://www.reallyhelpfulmarketing.co.uk/specialist-services/marketing-strategy-consultant/, to make the process easier for you.

 

1. Goals

The first and most important step: what do you want out of your marketing? Try to be specific, as you will constantly be referring back to these goals throughout the campaign. Try to make them measurable and achievable; for example, ‘I want 20 new customers this month’ is better than ‘I want more customers’.

 

2. Research

Start with some preliminary research, noting any trends that are emerging or any insight into current customer preferences. Surveys or focus groups are a good way to begin.

 

3. Identify your target audience

This acts as an extension of your goals, as you want to reiterate what you are offering, why, and to whom. Creating specific personas based on demographics and preferences will help you gain a more detailed understanding of who you are selling to.

 

4. Competition

With your goals in mind, you want to check the competition. Search for other companies, their social media, their prices – whatever you can get your hands on to properly gauge your own approach. This also helps you keep up with any industry trends. Use a competitor tool to help narrow these down.

 

5. Budget

Don’t go overboard with the budget. 5% to 10% of your expenditure is fine, or whatever suits your company.

 

6. Monitoring

Once a plan is in place, it doesn’t mean you need to blindly adhere to it. Take note of any shortcomings, or areas for improvement, and adjust as you see fit.