I never claim to be a techno-guru. I know enough to know what to do to reach and communicate with my target audience effectively and efficiently, but as far as setting up funnels, squeeze pages, metadata and lots of other back of the house stuff, I hire people who have more expertise than I do. And I’m real comfortable with that because I like hiring people I can learn from.
I also like talking about strategy and tactics because without the right strategy and tactics all the funky Facebook and iconic Instagram communications you do won’t matter if it doesn’t appeal to your customers or prospects.
So today I want to go review seven marketing rules you might want to consider for 2021. It’s never too late to take a look at your marketing strategy. While there might not be “official” rules to magically make your marketing materials a success, these are some tried and true tactics to help you get the results you’re seeking. Every business is different, but there are some strategies that work for everybody.
1. Know Thy Customer
Your customers are the reason you’re in business. But do you know who it is that you’re truly serving? Try this exercise to see how much you know about your typical customer. Sit down with your team to develop persona types. Define their age, gender, interests, hobbies and anything else you can think to dream up. This will help as you write marketing materials. Personas can determine the tone, language, colors, visuals, channels, and almost every other aspect of marketing you can think of.
2. Use What You Know
Branching out is a great idea, but you should never forget the product or service that has gotten you to this point. Ask yourself what’s worked well in the past. Then take it a step further and ask yourself why marketing was particularly successful for a product or service. Do more of the things you’re good at in 2021 for continued success. New doesn’t always mean better. Over 90% of all NEW products fail. Rather, look at how you can improve what you already do
3. Invest in Thy Website
A website could make or break your business. That may sound extreme, but it’s entirely true. A website in the 21st century is a source of credibility. If you make it easy to purchase or take next steps, your chances of success skyrocket. Invest in a clean, functional design that leaves no roadblocks to convert a brand-new customer. Make the checkout experience seamless, or the process of contacting you easy.
4. Always Use a CTA
CTA stands for “call to action.” There are various types of actions you could want your end-users to take, from “Shop Now” to a simple “Learn More.” Think of your CTA as next steps. While you might think it’s obvious what your audience should do after interacting with your marketing materials, that’s not always the case. Be clear and state exactly what you want them to do.
5. Simplify Thy Message
Your business has a lot to say, but be careful not to let your excitement take over. Your audience needs a clear, concise message. Choose the most compelling tidbits of information to capture their attention, and consider saving the rest for another campaign. In this case, less is more.
6. Try Something New
You’ll never know unless you try. While you should stick to the tried-and-true tactics that got you to where you are today, trying something new could be a gamechanger. Consider a new website design, a new social media platform or a completely new marketing strategy.
7. Ask the Right Questions
Lifelong learners are often great entrepreneurs. That’s because they know that learning is never done, and there are always improvements to be made. Question whether your marketing tactics are truly working. Ask your customers how you’re doing. Gather feedback every chance you can, and then use the feedback to get better.
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