MARKETING Tips to win the rest of 2020!

Marketing your small business for the remaining months of 2020 will take some reshaping, not just of the business but also of the mindset of the entrepreneur but it can be done! Strategically identifying where the customers are and targeting them specifically with well-defined marketing messages can help businesses to achieve some of those goals which would have been achieved earlier in the year, had it not been for COVID-19.

 

Still COVID-19 can be credited with the birth of several new customer solutions.  Customers are still buying and businesses still need to attract new and maintain old customer relationships.  Here are a few marketing tips to help your SMB ends 2020 with a win:

1.    M - Measure your marketing tactics carefully and don’t be afraid to adjust where necessary.  The idea for the remainder of 2020 is to maximize on those tactics that are effective, relevant and useful to building your brand and business and engaging with those customers who affect your bottom line.

2.    A – Agile marketing is even more important now than ever.  Focus your efforts on engaging not only existing customers but on reaching and retaining new customers as well.  And when you get those customers, deliver value!

3.    R – Be responsive. To both your clients and stakeholders.  Remember if you don’t respond in a timely manner, your competitor is right around the corner waiting to capitalize on your missed opportunities.

4.    K – Identify some key performance indicators for your business success.  Will it be increase in sales, brand visibility or increased customer engagement?  And, make them realistic, analyse current market and industry trends and temper your expectations accordingly.

5.    E – Increase efficiency by eliminating or outsourcing unnecessary or unmanageable tasks.  For example, most small business owners cannot manage their own marketing.  Now is the time to identify a marketing specialist to manage and execute these tasks.

6.    T – Training and capacity building remain crucial to personal and business development.  Schedule time to build your own capacity while increasing business output, connecting with clients and building the business.

7.    I – Useful, timely and relevant information that is consistent and concise is required especially now.  Develop a system that keeps your customers informed and updated on what is happening in your business and industry.  It may be a monthly email newsletter, social media updates or an occasional text/WhatsApp message.  Whatever it is, keep your customers informed.

8.    N – Add new elements to your marketing.  Not because the customer group may be burdened with COVID-19, change things up a little, excite the customer group and breathe new life into your marketing campaign.

9.    G – Growing the business should be at the forefront of the entrepreneur’s mind.  All marketing engagements should fuel the bottom line.  After identifying goals for the remainder of the year, write down your objectives … quantify your growth, know where each dollar is spent and how it will fuel business growth.