Considering your marketing options for the new year? Here are four suggestions to keep in mind as you plan your strategy for 2013:
Vary your approach. There are literally hundreds of ways to get your message out to customers, so don’t limit yourself to just one or two. If something is working well for you, keep it up, but don’t be afraid to try something new – just make sure you’re keeping track of what works and what doesn’t. Also, talk with your customers (both online and in person) to get their feedback and opinions.
Make it personal. Looking for a way to separate yourself from the competition? Share your story. People love to know about how and why you started your business, who you are, and what you do outside of work. If your company makes an effort to give back to the community in some way, either through donations or through volunteer work, let your customers know by sharing information on your website.
Take care of your customers and keep your eye online. People have more ways than ever to tell others about your business, which means that whether you like it or not, a good or bad review can spread to thousands of people in just minutes. Watch what’s being said about your company and if necessary, do some online damage control. Even if someone’s vocal about a bad experience, people will see that you made an effort to put things right. To start, set up a feed reader (like Google Reader) and sign up for Google Alerts and Yahoo Alerts (both free). You may also want to look into getting results through options like Technorati, BackType and Social Mention.
Make sure you’re mobile. An astonishing 75% of the world’s population now has access to mobile technology, and an ever-increasing number of people use their phones to search and find things they want to buy. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing customers. Think it’s time to revamp your site? Do it now.
Need help with any of these ideas? Contact us!
