Don’t Want to be the “Grinch” of Marketing? Use these 9 tips.
The smallest considerations create a lasting impact. This time of year can remind us of the essential foundations that can make or break the way we engage with our audience, existing clients, and even our own team. When it comes down to it, marketing, the way we communicate, and business, in general, is not about numbers or statistics—it’s primarily about the people.
Like Dr. Seuss’s tale of the Grinch (before he stole Christmas), lack of consideration and poor habits can create negative experiences for others. The same holds true when it comes to the manner in which you market your products or services. Follow these nine marketing practices to create a valuable experience for the audience on the receiving end of your message—and sustainable success within your team.
1. Know Your Audience
Do you know your target audience? When you’re not intentional with the content you provide, your audience will catch on. You may also risk spending too much time marketing (to the wrong people, for example) with little return. Consumers want to feel understood and are more likely to engage when provided with tailored information specifically for them. If you have more than one target audience, make sure you develop content for each audience.
2. Personalize Your Messaging
We know the distinction between business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C)—but don’t forget to incorporate the human-to-human approach. Weaving human emotions and experiences into your marketing messaging enhances relatability and provides depth to your messaging. Hint: It’s what made the Grinch realize the true meaning of Christmas. Personalization is the key to storytelling and bringing your product or service to life.
3. Value Relationships
Never treat your clients or consumers as a number. It’s vital to invest as much, if not more, time in developing and maintaining relationships as much as creating a marketing plan. Always consider the client/customer experience when pursuing and evaluating new ideas. When clients/customers have a positive experience in the mix, they are more likely to stick around.
4. Listen to Feedback
How can your product or service help prospective customers fix a problem or improve a situation? Consumers pave the way for all marketing efforts and dictate how marketers (should) communicate with them. A beneficial way to receive direct feedback is by sending a survey or providing a prompt via social media. Remember, their feedback will always determine the content and strategy.
5. Focus on Quality vs. Quantity
Sometimes, less is more. It’s not about the amount of content you create, but more about the value you provide. People will gravitate more towards information that is useful to them, avoiding the “fluff” content. Invest more time to research and planning, and you’ll have a better chance of seeing a greater engagement, interest, and—ultimately—financial return from your audience.
6. Evolve Your Strategy & Development
The world of marketing is constantly changing. Resistance to change will only set you up for failure. If your clients or customers notice you aren’t up-to-date with what’s happening in the world, you risk losing credibility and potential business. Instead, make sure you are staying in-the-know with current events and industry trends. Incorporate those findings into your strategy and development. Also, take note of what your competitors are doing.
7. Maintain Consistency in Your Branding
Building and maintaining credibility with your audience is key to retaining existing and new clients/customers. This credibility starts with your brand. Your brand not only includes the visual aspect of your company but also your identity as a whole. Who are you as a company? What are some of your core values? Once your brand’s identity, stick with it and integrate that into your messaging. Consistency is key to establishing credibility.
8. Prioritize Internal Communication
Successful marketing starts with being on the same page as your team members. Lack of communication can delay progress and decision-making, creating a lag in your marketing efforts. Idea development can flourish with a few points of view. However, keep in mind to prevent overloading the amount of input on your projects. Again, less is more.
9. Bonus Tip: Challenge Conventionalism
At Brand Viva, we don’t believe in sticking to doing things the way they’ve always been done. Don’t be afraid to try something new within your team and in your marketing efforts. People appreciate thinking that is outside the box. While it may not always create the return you are looking for, it will push you, your team, and your business outside its comfort zone and contribute towards overall growth.
About Brand Viva
Producing original content and maintaining a digital marketing plan can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Brand Viva Media is a Denver-based marketing agency that creates custom content and marketing strategies for our clients. When you have the marketing plan you need, your brand gains exposure, customers engage more, and your business flourishes.