Common,Marketing,Mistakes,Adve marketing 8 Common Marketing Mistakes
Awhile ago, I got an email from one of the "gurus" I follow and it shocked me. The gist of it was this person wanted to trade services for a household item.To say it floored me would be an understatement.What was worse was a few days later t Automation technologies represent a fundamental aspect of any modern industry. The major types of industrial automation solutions, such as DCS, PLC, SCADA, and MES, are used on a large-scale in process and discrete industries.DCS technologie
Advertising can be one of the fastest ways to market andgrow your business or it can be one of the quickest waysto go out of business. With the right ad you can attractclients to your business and increase your profits. Withthe wrong ad you can spend your way into bankruptcy.To grow your business you need to attract the attentionof your prospects, advertising can help you do so ifused correctly. Unfortunately, many small businessesowners waste thousands of dollars on advertising effortsthat only achieve minimal results.If you want to get the most from the money you spend topromote your products and services, make sure to avoidthese common mistakes.Focusing on Your Products and ServicesIf you want to get the attention of your prospects, speakto their needs and wants. Your prospects' primary concernisn't that you've been in business for 25 years; it is doyou know the problem they want to solve. Use your ad toidentify at least one common problem of your prospectsand the benefit of using your product or service.Having a Weak Marketing MessageAll to often you hear ads and it takes some thought tofigure out what they are even promoting. Make sure youradvertisement includes a 7-10 word description of whomyou serve and the problems you solve so people who reador hear your ad know how you can help them.Using the Wrong WordsA word here, a phrase there can change your responserate by hundreds of percent. When you spend money onadvertising, first test a number of versions of yourcopy to identify the one that works best. Just byrevising her ad copy so it was client and problemcentered, I helped one small business owner achieveher best month in sales ever.Missing MotivationMost ads miss the mark in moving prospects to action.If you want to prompt prospects to visit your web siteor your store or to contact you, include an offer thatmotivates them to do so.Lacking in FrequencySome people make spur of the moment buying decisions,but most need to become familiar with your servicesand products, and this takes time. If you want youradvertising to work, you need to ensure that yourprospects see or hear it regularly.Web Sites that Don't Move Prospects to ActionMany small business owners direct prospects to a website where they have more extensive content coveringavailable services and products. I constantly getcalls from people who have been successful atattracting prospects to their web site, but generatefew sales.Once prospects get to your web site make sure thecontent and visual organization moves them to takethe action you want them to. Whether it is providingthem with ample opportunities to fill in your serviceinquiry form, or including a subset of your productcatalog in your web page navigation bars, helpprospects move to client and customer status.Lack of Follow UpSometimes making a sale requires sending a note orpicking up the phone and calling your prospects. Ifyou have an effective lead generation strategy,prospects will provide you with their contactinformation and the problem they want solved. Use theweb, email, and the phone to follow up and close thesale.Lack of TrackingIf you are making more from your advertising than youare spending, you're ahead. Frequently small businessowners can't tell you which of their efforts helpedbring in the business. Track each of your ad campaignsand you'll know where to spend your money in thefuture, what to modify and what to eliminate.- Do you know how many sales and how much money youmade as a result of each of your advertising campaigns?- Are you making any of the above common marketingmistakes?- What elements of your marketing should you change?Put your marketing house in order. Fix your strategyand your materials. If you don't know what to changeor how to change it, use experts to help you withstrategy, copyrighting, design, PR, and media placement. Avoid these common marketing mistakes and you'll findore people contacting you about your products andservices and that your making more than your spendingon your advertising.2004 © In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.-
Common,Marketing,Mistakes,Adve