The MadAveGroup Blog

Once you’ve finalized your marketing pieces - whether it’s a direct mail or post card campaign, a brochure or series of print ads, TV spots, emails or materials in any other format - share them with all of your employees.

Why?

Your marketing is your promise to customers and prospects, and you should want everyone on your team to know what those people are expecting of your company. Sharing your marketing pieces can also unite your company’s employees behind a common cause: the goals of your marketing department.

Finally, you’re sure to create goodwill and a sense of belonging among your staff when you include them in the process. You may even want to use them as in an in-house focus group by actively soliciting their feedback.

A classic example is the music industry. Record companies give CDs to radio stations in hopes they’ll play certain tracks, generating interest in - and sales of - their music. Radio benefits from the free programming and giveaways.

With what company or industry can you create a similar symbiosis? Get creative. Think of other companies that share your target audience. Then, work together to build a mutually beneficial relationship. An example: if you sell cars, provide a local TV station with their news vehicles and ongoing maintenance in exchange for spots touting you as “the official automotive dealer of Channel 12.”

What would you rather read about in this space: our company’s most recent accomplishments, that shiny new plaque I just accepted at our industry’s annual conference, and the new headquarters we just built? Or would you prefer to spend your valuable time reading something that’s about you and your needs; an article that will help you get ahead or improve your company’s marketing?

Because you’re a human being with natural human tendencies you want content that’s directed at you. Right?

Once you understand that about yourself, it’s easy to see that your customers and prospects are more interested in sales and marketing materials that appeal to their specific needs; content that will help them see how your product or service will solve their problems and ease their pains.

So, when you’re writing copy for your website, your next print campaign or even a customer service letter, use pronouns that are directed at your audience. When you change the focus from “we” and “us” to “you” and “your”, customers will find it much easier to see the benefits they’ll reap from doing business with you.

With the advent of satellite radio, web-based programming and, of course, the iPod, consumers no longer need to rely on traditional radio alone for news and music. There’s still a big audience to reach via the AM and FM bands, but listenership is shrinking so if you decide to advertise on radio your spots need to be even more effective.

1) Get noticed! Use a unique style, copy, voices, music or sound effects that grab attention. Monitor the stations you’ll be buying. If their promos and spots have a certain pace or sound, try going in the opposite direction stylistically so your spot will stand apart from the rest.

2) Don’t get punched out! Today’s long music sweeps (“10 songs in a row”) are often followed by long spot sets. Listeners know this and will punch out to avoid 6 minutes of commercials. Keep them tuned in with a spot that’s funny, odd or in any other way “sticky.”

3) Pay for your spots! Don’t let the sales guy at your local station write your copy or the mid-day DJ record it. Find an agency that will help you create your own sound. The radio station may produce your spot free of charge, but it’ll sound like every other station-produced spot. The goals are to stand out, get noticed and be remembered. If you don’t strive for those goals by encouraging unique, engaging creative and production, what’s the point of advertising at all?

Kermit the Frog was right – it’s not easy being green.

But if you’re determined to hitch a ride on the green marketing bandwagon, do it right.

First, define why you’re using green marketing. Is it a cost or image issue? Or do you feel you have a moral obligation? Making sure your products are “ozone friendly” or “recyclable” is just the beginning. In fact, the concept of green marketing incorporates a much broader range of activities. Check your production processes, packaging, distribution and marketing materials to make sure your green claims are accurate.

And keep the first rule of marketing in mind: know your customers’ needs. Environmental stewardship may not be enough to sell your products, so be prepared to promote their green benefits as a valuable secondary benefit.

Sure, it’s straight out of your Marketing 101 textbook, but the S.W.O.T. analysis is still a great tool that can be applied in many different ways. Not only is taking inventory of your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats essential when developing your organization’s strategic marketing plan, it can also be beneficial when planning advertising campaigns, designing your new website or creating new collateral. Perform a S.W.O.T. analysis before brainstorming on how to improve the performance of a specific department within your company. Or you might even put yourself through the exercise if you’re trying to evaluate your own skills in an effort to move up the corporate ladder. Click here to access our free S.W.O.T. graph.

Does the “Contact Us” page on your website only allow visitors to reach you through an “[email protected]” email box? If so, consider adding a few more options.

Just as people prefer to receive information differently (visually, aurally or kinesthetically), we don’t all prefer to communicate the same way.

Current or potential customers who need immediate assistance or more information can become easily frustrated if your site doesn’t include a telephone and fax number, or even a physical address.

While you may be driving traffic to your website to reduce incoming phone calls, keep your customers’ needs - and apprehensions - in mind. They may not be sure when - or if - their important questions will be answered if they’re emailed to an anonymous employee. For the sake of winning and retaining more customers and improving their experience with your company, don’t hide behind an email address. Give people the option to communicate with you on their terms.

My wife and I attended a conference in Wisconsin in the spring of 2008. The goal was to learn about different ways we can improve our church. The main speaker during the two-day presentation was a pastor named Dan. Dan is very, very good at what he does. All weekend he told compelling stories about his church, his congregation and their experiences together, weaving wonderful lessons and life-changing ideas into the mix.

As great as Dan’s presentation was, I wouldn’t have cared a lick about it three years ago...before I started going to church. But now that my family and I attend services weekly, now that I’ve been baptized, now that I’m a deacon, I was more than interested in what Dan was sellin’.  In a sense, I was a customer.

Now think about your customers. They like you. They trust you. They may even depend on you. They want to buy what YOU sell, just like I wanted the information Dan had. You may make the greatest product since pie, but convincing a non-customer to buy it can still be an uphill, expensive, and time-consuming process. So, while you still need to bring in the un-churched (new customers) don’t stop preachin’ to the choir. Never overlook opportunities to build stronger, deeper relationships with your existing customers by providing them with proactive input and valuable information whenever possible.

Can I get an Amen?