Monday, October 19, 2009

Marketing in a down economy: To spend or not to spend?

For a business to grow and attract potential customers, it needs to market constantly. No two week vacations, pressing on pause or waiting for a recession to end. Marketing 24/7 to meet the needs of your business goals, and that is to make sales.

Marketing to simply market your products will not do. You need a hook.

You do need to set your business apart from all other companies in your niche. Price pointing is a tough edge to hold on to. It’s really hard for a small business to compete on price with the large discount stores, and online mega retailers. So you need something more, better.

While to many this seems like a daunting experience. Marketing online is no easy task, and to make money is a bigger challenge than what most entrepreneurs think. Its a jungle out there, and the rulers of the land are those who have mastered the art of marketing online that not only reaches their target market, but also drives in the dollars.

Its easy to try and follow the competition to see what their doing to drum up business, but why waste your time. Sure you can have a peak, but then create your own niche to help increase those slow or no sales. Spending too much time on your competitors takes away time from your own business and goals.

Marketing in a down economy: To spend or not to spend?

Yes. Spend. Spend wisely, but do spend. Spending in a a recession has proven to be a winner for those who did not ignore their marketing despite being in a recession. When the economy bounced back, they were rewarded with new business and more sales profits.

Here's a few ideas you can use as your marketing hook, to help set your small business apart from the crowd. Just remember if you use one of these as your marketing tool, you actually have to live up to the pitch.

* Price points - are you giving a good deal for yourself, or your customers?
* Positioning yourself as a quality producer in your market.
* Letting your customers know that you provide the best customer service around.
* Offer a little extra something to go with their purchase.
* Offer current technology in your products or services.

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If you don’t know what your marketing hook is you need to sit down, and figure it out.

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