Cost Effective Small Business Administration/SCORE How to Start a Small Business Susan Campbell Marketing Consultant twenty . five  EIGHT Group      Washington, DC Phone: 202 360 8017  E-mail: swcamp@aol.com
Marketing  is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, services, organizations, and events to create and maintain relationships that will satisfy individual and organizational objectives.  ( Contemporary Marketing Wired  1998)
Marketing Plan Your blueprint for communicating the value of your products and/or services to your customers. Outlines the specific actions you intend to carry out to interest potential customers/clients in your products and/or service. Specifies how you plan to persuade them to buy the product and/or services you offer. Defines your budget and Return On Investment (ROI). Marketing Strategy Your roadmap  - tells you  where  you want to go and  how  you’re going to get there.
 
Online Research Tools U.S. Department of Labor
Offline Research Tools Washington Business Journal Trade press, Newsletters Visit the competition as a customer – what appeals to you?  What doesn’t appeal to you? Associations, Chamber of Commerce,  Better Business Bureau
Know Your Customer Demographics  - Who’s your customer? What does your customer want? Geographic Concentration  – where will they come from? How do you reach them? What, or who, influences their buying decisions? Be Sure Your Customer Knows &  Remembers  You Create credibility and trust Demonstrate your expertise Measurable testimonials Guarantees
Online Social Networking Meetup.com Facebook LinkedIn MySpace YouTube  – Viral Marketing Wikipedia Cost effective Be discovered; discover inside connections that can help you close deals Find potential clients, service providers, subject matter  experts, and partners  Post and distribute job listings Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know
Web Site A Web Site is your  business in a box  , reflecting the same level of information and service one can gather by visiting in-person … and more Establishes a familiar face; builds recognition Creates value and implies validity But … if you don’t have a web site that effectively represents your image and message, and if you can not maintain/update your site, think twice.
Blogging Start and enter blogs specific to your business What are people saying? What do you have to offer? Are people listening and responding to you? Blogs are not for “hard selling.”  They’re for dialogue and establishing yourself as a “subject matter expert.”
Web sites and Blogging Complement Each Other Create a  community  NOW  Drive traffic to you and your expertise/ideas Gauge interest Twitter.com  is a good start.  It’s a mini-blog often referred to as a ‘virtual water cooler’ Search the web for applicable blogs
Low Cost Outreach Partnerships and Alliances Referral Program PR – relevant publications E-mail newsletter Seminars, trade shows, conferences, expos – attend and/or participate Promotional items Community activities
Brand, Identity, Logo Your  identity  (brand) is a powerful communication tool, yet few businesses consciously create and use a brand identity, or logo to their advantage. Your message and identify should be simple, concise, visual and  consistent .
Marketing Success Marketing  is  the most challenging activity for any company –  big or small .  Targeting a market niche and simplifying your approach will produce the best possible results.  If you remain focused on the core driving forces of your marketing programs -- while remaining open to new ideas --  you will find your way ! Marketing is acknowledged to be the most challenging activity for any company. The increasing complexity of markets and the speed of change means that a shotgun approach will not be effective. The rifle approach involved in targeting a market niche ensures that the best possible impact will be achieved.  There are significant challenges to achieving marketing success.  If you remain focused on the core driving forces of your marketing programs -- while remaining open to new ideas --  you will find your way.

Susan Campbell Presentation On Marketing

  • 1.
    Cost Effective SmallBusiness Administration/SCORE How to Start a Small Business Susan Campbell Marketing Consultant twenty . five EIGHT Group     Washington, DC Phone: 202 360 8017 E-mail: [email protected]
  • 2.
    Marketing isthe process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, services, organizations, and events to create and maintain relationships that will satisfy individual and organizational objectives. ( Contemporary Marketing Wired 1998)
  • 3.
    Marketing Plan Yourblueprint for communicating the value of your products and/or services to your customers. Outlines the specific actions you intend to carry out to interest potential customers/clients in your products and/or service. Specifies how you plan to persuade them to buy the product and/or services you offer. Defines your budget and Return On Investment (ROI). Marketing Strategy Your roadmap - tells you where you want to go and how you’re going to get there.
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Online Research ToolsU.S. Department of Labor
  • 6.
    Offline Research ToolsWashington Business Journal Trade press, Newsletters Visit the competition as a customer – what appeals to you? What doesn’t appeal to you? Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau
  • 7.
    Know Your CustomerDemographics - Who’s your customer? What does your customer want? Geographic Concentration – where will they come from? How do you reach them? What, or who, influences their buying decisions? Be Sure Your Customer Knows & Remembers You Create credibility and trust Demonstrate your expertise Measurable testimonials Guarantees
  • 8.
    Online Social NetworkingMeetup.com Facebook LinkedIn MySpace YouTube – Viral Marketing Wikipedia Cost effective Be discovered; discover inside connections that can help you close deals Find potential clients, service providers, subject matter experts, and partners Post and distribute job listings Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know
  • 9.
    Web Site AWeb Site is your business in a box , reflecting the same level of information and service one can gather by visiting in-person … and more Establishes a familiar face; builds recognition Creates value and implies validity But … if you don’t have a web site that effectively represents your image and message, and if you can not maintain/update your site, think twice.
  • 10.
    Blogging Start andenter blogs specific to your business What are people saying? What do you have to offer? Are people listening and responding to you? Blogs are not for “hard selling.” They’re for dialogue and establishing yourself as a “subject matter expert.”
  • 11.
    Web sites andBlogging Complement Each Other Create a community NOW Drive traffic to you and your expertise/ideas Gauge interest Twitter.com is a good start. It’s a mini-blog often referred to as a ‘virtual water cooler’ Search the web for applicable blogs
  • 12.
    Low Cost OutreachPartnerships and Alliances Referral Program PR – relevant publications E-mail newsletter Seminars, trade shows, conferences, expos – attend and/or participate Promotional items Community activities
  • 13.
    Brand, Identity, LogoYour identity (brand) is a powerful communication tool, yet few businesses consciously create and use a brand identity, or logo to their advantage. Your message and identify should be simple, concise, visual and consistent .
  • 14.
    Marketing Success Marketing is the most challenging activity for any company – big or small . Targeting a market niche and simplifying your approach will produce the best possible results. If you remain focused on the core driving forces of your marketing programs -- while remaining open to new ideas -- you will find your way ! Marketing is acknowledged to be the most challenging activity for any company. The increasing complexity of markets and the speed of change means that a shotgun approach will not be effective. The rifle approach involved in targeting a market niche ensures that the best possible impact will be achieved. There are significant challenges to achieving marketing success. If you remain focused on the core driving forces of your marketing programs -- while remaining open to new ideas -- you will find your way.