7 Tips to Successful Marketing

Tip #1 Always Include These 3 Elements in Your Marketing Messages

Element 1: Powerful Headline

Use the headline to grab your customers' attention and let them know what you can do for them. State the biggest benefits up front. Focus on benefits of your products and services, not the features.

Element 2: Compeling Call to Action

Your desired result is to motivate your ideal client to act immediately to engage you directly or indirectly and generate a prospect by getting their contact information. A limited time offer can often move the skeptic and procrastinator from prospect to customer. If there is only a short time to take advantage of a special opportunity, you will enjoy more response.

Element 3: Multiple Contacts Method

Offer a choice between e-mail, telephone, web site, fax, etc, so your prospect can choose what is most comfortable to them.

Tip #2 Be Focused

Don't try to be everything to everyone. Be something to someone. Just as customers screen you, you should decide who you want to serve. Most businesses will get 80% of their sales from 20% of their customers. Know exactly who those 20% are and aim your advertising to that segment.

Tip #3 Ways to Boost Your Response Rates

Dramatically increase your odds for a direct mail response by including a self-addressed, stamped or postage paid envelope. Advertisements bearing a toll-free 1800-phone number are usually noticed by 20% more people than those lacking one. As a rule, at least twice as many people will respond to an 1800 number in an advertisement, rather than calling a regular phone number.

Tip #4 Create a Unique Sales Preposition

What looks good to you is not necessarily so for your desired audience. Do market research and test your strategies on your target market. To successfully market a product or service, you must first position your company in relation to the competition. Decide whether you want to be known for low bargain prices, unlimited selection, top of the line customer service, or the highest quality of merchandise.

Tip #5 Show Excellent Customer Service

Word of mouth is the least expensive, yet most effective way to get new business. It costs nothing and is the most believable of all. This is therefore a positive reason for sustaining excellent customer service and relations. If your customers are thrilled by the service you give, they'll tell their friends.

Tip #6 Take Some Risks

A believable guarantee makes it safe for potential customers to give you a try. Very few people will exploit a generous guarantee compared to the extra business it generates. Can you guarantee the results of your advertising? Are you willing to commit to a money-back guarantee?

Tip #7 Follow Up, Follow Up and Follow Up Again

Having invested all the time and effort, maximise the benefits you have reaped. People need to build trust with you. Always contact your leads within 24 hours of receiving them. Chances are if you contact them a week or two later, they will have moved on. Use a combination of mail, email, telephone and personal visits as your follow-up strategy. At each opportunity provide your potential clients with value. 80% of sales are made after five or more contacts. Yet a typical business person gives up after just one or two follow up contacts. These elements will make all the difference in the world between struggling to get clients and becoming wildly successfully in marketing your services. They are worth investing your best efforts and getting the support you need to implement them effectively.