 BUSINESS 4NETWORKING [top 5 marketing strategies] |
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Posted on 09th Oct 2008 at 19:52
Thought I would start a bit of market research.
What marketing, outside of networking, is working for you at the moment?
What can we learn from each other re bringing in new business?
Business Coach
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Posted on 09th Oct 2008 at 20:30
I do implement a lot of these ideas when I can but for me I think my number one marketing strategy is client referrals
http://www.judycablepaservices.com/PDF/101%20Ways%20to%20Market%20Your%20Business.pdf
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Posted on 09th Oct 2008 at 20:48
Personally its difficult to do as much as I want as I am doing other peoples!. I am currently using the 5 a day rule. I make sure I have accurate contact names by pre calling 5 of my prospects and then send a letter to each of them. I call them 3 days later and chat about them and our services and whether there is scope for us to work together. I do this everyday so I am always doing little but often.
We send out an email newsletter once a month (sometimes twice if we have something interesting to say above the norm).
We canvass trading estates and shops. Dropping in leaflets and business cards and getting to know our prospects.
Non direct stuff - we use Google adwords which brings the odd enquiry. We have a limited budget which gets used up quickly but I got enough business from it to keep it going.
We use Yell which whilst hasnt been great but has now actually just about paid for itself.
We are continually trying to promote the website and improve our Google rankings.
James Minion
Symmetry Business Marketing Ltd
 0845 094 3266
 0789 099 6881
 james@symmetry-marketing.co.uk
www.symmetry-marketing.co.uk
Direct marketing solutions
Start your free 60-day email marketing trial today CLICK HERE
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Posted on 09th Oct 2008 at 21:50
Quote:Personally its difficult to do as much as I want as I am doing other peoples!. I am currently using the 5 a day rule. I make sure I have accurate contact names by pre calling 5 of my prospects and then send a letter to each of them. I call them 3 days later and chat about them and our services and whether there is scope for us to work together. I do this everyday so I am always doing little but often.
We send out an email newsletter once a month (sometimes twice if we have something interesting to say above the norm).
We canvass trading estates and shops. Dropping in leaflets and business cards and getting to know our prospects.
Non direct stuff - we use Google adwords which brings the odd enquiry. We have a limited budget which gets used up quickly but I got enough business from it to keep it going.
We use Yell which whilst hasnt been great but has now actually just about paid for itself.
We are continually trying to promote the website and improve our Google rankings.
James,
Sounds like you have a system in place. Great!
It is important that what ever strategy you use there is a follow up process and that you give a strategy a chance to work. `keep doing it and test and measure. If it works keep doing it.
There are about 73 different lead generation strategies that can be implemented, tested and measured and some will work better for some businesses than others.
the key is to follow a process and test and measure.
Business Coach
...able to help you with your sales, marketing, advertising, profit growth, business systems, time management and team building strategies to literally jump your revenues in a matter of months ...
"Do you run your business or does your business run you?"
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Posted on 09th Oct 2008 at 21:57
Couldnt agree more. Test and measure. We send out two versions of the same letter to see if it influences reponse. In our circumstance I cannot see any measurable difference in results at the moment but we are operating on a small scale in terms of the volume of marketing material sent. Trends are easier to pick up as scale increases. We measure though because over time I suspect (I know) we will see a pattern emerge.
Like everyone else making the most of our small budget is important so for us testing everything we do is essential in our success.
James Minion
Symmetry Business Marketing Ltd
0845 094 3266
0789 099 6881
james@symmetry-marketing.co.uk
www.symmetry-marketing.co.uk
Direct marketing solutions
Start your free 60-day email marketing trial today CLICK HERE
DIGITAL PRINT -
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Posted on 09th Oct 2008 at 21:59
Years 1 and 2 - hard grafting at shows and fairs selling to public, getting product following. Also developing retail outlets to take product
Year 2 - offering the retailers up to a wholesalers (on verge of getting frist wholesaler just befroe end of year1); targeting smaller chains
Year 3 or 4- nudging towards the supermarkets.
Various marketing involved en route, but with all of them goes enthusiasm, effort, belief, knowledge and a smile.
Dean
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 08:14
1. Client referals
2. Sports networking particularly cricket & rugby ( having fun with mates )
3. Website enquiries (SEO, article generation)
4. Competition ( this is new. Rivals struggling to find certain skills , I provide for a cut)
5. Being an expert ( I don't do enough of this but am pushing)
6. Email newsletters - lower impact , than in the past - is this because more people are doing them, or a reflection of the economic times we are in
7. Telemarketing - a bit hit and miss.
8. 4N - fun but not fruitful for me on the sales side, but have got some suppliers.
9. PR - I don't do tis enough
I never advertise, unless through 4N or website to specialised to have an impact.
I don't invest in fancy printed literature but fun stuff.
Each business will be different.
Chris Slay, Director | Specialist Provider of Polish Jobs | 07977 131 389 | enquiries@skillsprovision.co.uk
Skills Provision Ltd is registered under the Gangmaster Act 2004
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 08:45
1. Online booking agencies - gives global coverage for the hotel and beings 35% of all bookings
2. Local newspaper ads (Yes! they still have a place!). Regular Press Releases/Relationship with local papers. Manage to get editorial coverage 5 or 6 times a year. Knowing the journos and writing the articles for them makes it easy to get a story covered.
3. Continual updating and enlarging of website.
4. Sports sponsorship - Exeter City FC - Opens doors with other corporate sponsors and helps get editorial coverage with Express & Echo & Gemini FM. Heightens awareness with businesses in Exeter to promote conference trade.
5. Advertise within rooms & restaurant to existing customers (often neglected!)
A Hotel for Business or Pleasure (but better for BOTH!)
01404 831278
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 08:53
What a fantastic post, I have learnt a geat deal from everyones contribution. I now intend to steal/implement all of the ideas.....
My contribution is to make sure you keep marketing in these times, cutting the marketing budget is not a good idea. It is proven that businesses that market effectively in economic downturns, win through when the economy returns to richer pastures.
So use the cracking ideas discussed above, ignore at your peril.
Martin Jones
Thomas Consultant
07967 621 848
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 10:14
Quote:
What a fantastic post, I have learnt a geat deal from everyones contribution. I now intend to steal/implement all of the ideas.....
My contribution is to make sure you keep marketing in these times, cutting the marketing budget is not a good idea. It is proven that businesses that market effectively in economic downturns, win through when the economy returns to richer pastures.
So use the cracking ideas discussed above, ignore at your peril.
Hi Martin,
Actually it's even better than that. Businesses that market effectively now will start to win now regardless of the wider economy. Of course that does indeed mean you will be in a much stronger position when things get rosier. It's just important not to assume that the results can't be had today.
Jon Dean
Sales Training - Marketing Services
I'm the only person you'll ever work with who will guarantee to make you money. (Probably because no-one else is mad enough)
Where to go to get Free Stuff:
The Jon Dean Email - Essential business opinions & trends for every executive or entrepreneur
The Seven Secrets of Successful Sales Training - Don't book any Sales Training without it
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 10:25
Actually it's even better than that. Businesses that market effectively now will start to win now regardless of the wider economy. Of course that does indeed mean you will be in a much stronger position when things get rosier. It's just important not to assume that the results can't be had today.
Totally agree. It is noticeable that I am one of the few hospitality businesses in my area still marketing actively. In fact, I have increased marketing effort. I am seeing occupancy 25% UP on the same period last year. Others are moaning about how the weather & the economy are leaving them with empty rooms.
A Hotel for Business or Pleasure (but better for BOTH!)
01404 831278
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 10:59
Telemarketing. At first was sceptical but now swear by it.
Design - Test - Measure - repeat.......
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 11:40
Steve,
Great to hear your story. It was interesting to read your notes on strategy too. I worked with a hotel in Newquay last year. We focused on booking agents, how to fill rooms outside peak seasons, and maximising total spend per capita.
His profits have trebled (which he keeps quiet when talking to other hoteliers in the area who are bemoaning their luck)! And he's enjoying work more too.
Jon Dean
Sales Training - Marketing Services
I'm the only person you'll ever work with who will guarantee to make you money. (Probably because no-one else is mad enough)
Where to go to get Free Stuff:
The Jon Dean Email - Essential business opinions & trends for every executive or entrepreneur
The Seven Secrets of Successful Sales Training - Don't book any Sales Training without it
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 12:21
Don't forget the press.
Regional and local newspapers still love a good business people related story and it's a great way to gain visual exposure and gain a few column inches for next to nothing.
Think about publicising milestones in your business with quirky props for a photo shoot such as your 1000th customer, charity events or a new foreign investor or client. You just need a decent quality camera, someone who can write a brief and clear press release and the email address of your local news desk. Give it a whirl!
Oh and maybe a few props...e.g. if you've just received a significant order from abroad, dress up in the relevant cultural attire and pose for the camera to celebrate.
Phil Elwell, Director, Code Marketing Communications
t. 07825 545038 e. phil@codemc.com w. www.codemc.com
Code is an 'Approved Supplier' on the West Midlands Supplier Register.
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Posted on 10th Oct 2008 at 15:52
In no particular order:
1. Referrals - within and outside 4N (I see that as different to but aligned to networking per se) usually where a client mentions me to someone else.
2. Email marketing - I mean my own e-newsletter not the ones I do for clients
3. Informal but strategic alliances, eg. with web designers, marketing consultants.
4. Social/sports - Chris Pearson of Fivve Ltd sponsored a squash team at my club. I noticed he ran a marketing consultancy, we had a chat and I am now on his roster of providers for video and email marketing. We have worked on 5 different projects in the last 3 months alone.
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