You’re in business to add value to the world, help others and solve people’s pain points, all while generating an income. Whatever level of success you’re looking to achieve, you need to institute an effective strategy to market your company. But how do you do it?
Clearly, it isn’t easy. If it were, we wouldn’t be in business guiding SMBs in their marketing efforts. We see quite a lot of businesses struggle with their branding and creating a cohesive plan. If you relate to this, here’s some advice - start by setting SMART goals.
Need a nudge in the right direction? Ask yourself the following questions when it comes to setting each goal:
Specific - What do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important?
Measurable - How will I know when it’s accomplished?
Achievable - How can I achieve this goal? Is it realistic?
Relevant - Does this match our efforts/needs? Is this worthwhile?
Time-bound - When is the best time to tackle this goal? What can I do today to get the things rolling?
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Now That You Know What SMART Goals Are, Make Them Smarter!
It’s time to amp up your marketing efforts for the new year, quarter or month. It’s true, an effective marketing plan takes time to develop and you need to stick with your strategy for about 6 to 12 months before you start to see meaningful results.
It might seem a little overwhelming. Therefore, a good approach is to lay out clear steps and then see what works and what doesn’t. Once you find a formula that works well, that’s when you implement a strategy that will help you reach your goals over time.
Want to get a good handle on your marketing plan? Keep reading!
3 Tips to Develop a Smarter Marketing Plan
When you infuse some or all of the following things that make up a smarter plan of action, you’ll greatly increase your chances for success in expanding your presence and reach, converting leads and positioning your brand in a competitive space.
1. Create Your Buyer Personas
The success of all inbound marketing activities always starts with the development of buyer personas. Where to start? Do some digging on your ideal customer so you can understand who you’re talking to - ask questions, consult your sales team, research, etc.
Photo Credit: Social Media Examiner
Blog: How to effectively create buyer personas
2. Connect with Them Where They Hang Out
Just because social media is prevalent doesn’t mean your business has to be active on all of the channels. It’s best to focus on the ones that can benefit you most. For example, if you find that your target audience mostly hangs out on Facebook and LinkedIn, you should leverage these channels in a way that is engaging, informative and profitable.
3. Build High-Converting Landing Pages
Simplicity is key to increasing the conversion rates on your landing page. To fully understand the differences between a landing page and your homepage, just think about what it is you’re trying to get your potential customer to do.
Photo Credit: Unbounce
What is a Landing Page?
In marketing, a landing page is a standalone web page that’s designed specifically to convert visitors to leads or customers - known as a Call-to-Action (CTA). To help increase conversion rates, here are some effective strategies:
- Include discount offers
- Make the offer straightforward and to the point
- Reduce options on your short form
- Give visitors the option to live chat with you
Learn more about what you need for an effective inbound marketing strategy by downloading our free eBook!
