If you want to start the year off with a bang, then a marketing strategy should be at the top of your list.
Short on time? Here are some steps you can take to make things easier:
1. Plan Ahead
- Consider the year ahead and take note of any important dates. Selling gifts, flowers or beauty? Think Mothers Day and Valentines Day. Chocolates? Easter. Dividing your products into seasons beforehand will ensure you are promoting the right product at the right time.
- Any national days that have impact? National Health Day, National Mental Health Day? If so, is it worth planning a social media campaign beforehand?
- Are you planning to attend any events, tradeshows or conferences? Any brilliant staff training that’s worth a mention? Record these and remember to tag in all the relevant social media accounts.
- Don’t rush your emailers. Make a plan across the year of the type of content you’re going to include and make sure it fits in with all the other areas of your marketing plan.
2. Promotional timing
- Stay close to your marketing plan. Alongside your year long plan, a short term one will help you stay on track and accommodate any changes or new opportunities that come up.
- Have your marketing ready two months in advance. Start correspondence with printers and designers, schedule social media posts a month or two in advance if possible (but don’t neglect live tweeting).
3. Marketing plan
Every business is different, but here’s something to get you started:
Daily
- One to three social media posts.
- Login to your social media accounts once for some live activity – make use of current trends where possible.
- Make notes of anything newsworthy for your PR and e-newsletters – any birthdays, office news, promotions, new staff, a new project etc.
Monthly
- Update website and social media banner images.
- Any news worthy pieces? Send out some PR.
- Post at least one blog post.
- Keep a record of your marketing analytics. What’s working? Different channels work for different organisations. If a platform isn’t working for you, invest more strongly elsewhere.
- Send out a monthly e-newsletters
Yearly
Start the year with those foundations in place: have a marketing plan for the year ahead.
4. Apps
- If there’s an app, use it. With social media a few taps away you can quickly take pictures and upload them across your channels. Remember that images increase engagement.
- The more accessible your marketing is, the more likely you are to keep on top of it.
5. Reminders
You’re not going to remember everything, so set reminders along the way. Use a calendar with alerts, write it in a paper diary, stick post it notes on your desk - do whatever you need to do to keep your marketing active, current and on trend. Whatever you do – don’t leave it ‘til tomorrow.
5. Digital marketing
- Good SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) will get you moving up Google’s rankings. So do some work to lift your profile.
- PPC (Pay Per Click) will put you right at the top of Google or across the sponsored ads on social media. The great thing about PPC is that you only pay if someone clicks the link.
- Competitions are a great way to increase engagement, get people involved and show that your social media accounts are active, exciting and worth following. It gives your audiences an opportunity to engage and possibly share their opinions.
Effective marketing takes time, but if you monitor what you’re doing and you’re marketing on the right channels to the right people, it’s time well spent.
If you need an experienced marketer to work alongside your business give us a call today 01743 344 911 check out our website www.cleardesign.co.uk or just pop in for a coffee.
Want to know more? Get in touch :)