In Part 2 of this blog series from Anna Short at Boo! Marketing, we'll be looking at '5 steps to a simple marketing strategy for your small business'.
If you missed Part 1, you can find it here
With 5 simple steps your marketing can work towards achieving your business goals, this includes everything from your website and email campaigns to your social media management.
The first step is always the hardest isn’t it whether it’s in your business or your personal life. We all know the key to taking the first step is to break that big task down into small steps. And, you are only 5 steps away from setting your business apart from the competition to increase sales and grow your business.
It's tough competing in industries where there are many businesses providing the same products and services. One thing is for sure, no two businesses are ever the same. Your strategy will pinpoint exactly what makes your business unique, it’s this that helps you stand out and get known for what you do best.
A focused marketing strategy supports consistent action to achieve business goals. Without a strategy you have no clear direction to success.
During my 26 years in marketing I have learnt from some of the best and continue on my mission to make marketing simple for small businesses. It’s these learnings that shape the 5-step simple marketing strategy.
Start by rating the marketing of your small business at this moment in time. Is it a 5 out of 5, is it a 1 out of 5, or somewhere in the middle? Make a note of your rating, use this to create a goal to improve this over the next 12 months.
Now, here’s how to get your marketing working in the right way by applying the 5-steps:
Step-1
The business story to create genuine and real connection. This could cover when you setup the businesses up, why you set it up, what your strengths are and the levels of quality that you work to.
Step-2
Vision, goals, and values – all that motivates the existence of the business with what’s deeply embedded to create long term relationships. Note your big dream for the business, your top 3 goals for the next 12-months (3 is the magic number!) and your top 3 business values.
Step-3
Review current marketing activities to understand what works well and where improvements can be made. List every activity you have done to date to see which works best. What does it tell you?
Step-4
Your customers – who are they, what are the main features of those customers? Where are they located? And what are they interested in when it comes to business and their personal lives? Remember! We connect with people that we tend to share common ground with.
Step-5
Marketing messages. The messages that talk directly to the needs of your customers in their language. Think about what your prospect or customer says in those initial conversations about what they need, or what their challenge is.
These 5-steps form the basis of a simple marketing strategy. If a strategy is simple, it’s doable. It’s all about creating action achieve the goals of the business.
It takes skill to create a simple marketing strategy, hard questions need to be asked, in-depth research undertaken. You have to do the hard work to get the simple strategy out of it.
Consequences of not having a marketing strategy
Every business should have a marketing strategy, no exceptions. The reason why many small businesses fail is due to a lack of strategy and planning. As a consequence, those business that don’t have a solid strategy will:
- struggle to get their business and message out to the right audiences
- not stand out strongly amongst their competition
- get and keep fewer customers
- be unable to compete effectively
- miss opportunities to reach more of their target audiences for business growth
The clued-up business owner knows that knowledge is power. You will be a step ahead when it comes to marketing your business once you’ve finished reading this. You’ll already be in a stronger position to remove obstacles to market your business confidently.
Marketing results don’t just happen by chance! The more time you spend creating a clear strategy, the more opportunities you create to sell.
Creating a strategy ensures you’re targeting the right people, with relevant marketing content that appeals to them and is helpful.
Achieve your business goals with a marketing strategy
What if you had a simple marketing strategy to achieve your goals every year. What would that give you and your business?
You’ve gained so much already by framing your thoughts with the 5-step simple marketing strategy. Now, you can do more. Realise the marketing opportunities out there for your business to generate enquiries, leads and sales every month.
For those who want hands-on guidance, Youbee Media runs marketing workshops that take you step-by-step through creating and implementing a marketing strategy.
Make your small business marketing simple
Start being strategic with your marketing today, this week, this month with the 5 steps I’ve shared with you, or complete your strategy and plan of action to achieve your goals over the next 12 months.
What are those goals you want to have by this time next year?
Need help or want to chat through your strategy, our marketing consultancy at Youbee Media can work with you one-on-one to review your current strategy and check the best marketing activities for your business?
We’d love to talk simple strategy with you. Give us a ring on: 01133235959 or email: hello@youbeemedia.co.uk
