The fundamental flaw with many company’s new business strategies is that they do an intensive burst of communications to create some engagement and interest with their target customer, and hope that is enough to generate sales. Sadly they will be disappointed. It’s not how marketing works.
Think right now of your top 3 favourite brands of car or perfume. It’s no doubt easy to think of 3 but may be harder to think of 4, 5 or 6. So the question is, are you one of your target audience’s top 3 brands? If not, they won’t remember you (and therefore won’t buy from you).
So what do we need to do to stay at ‘front of mind’ with our potential customers? Here are 5 things to consider:
It’s not just about saying the right things to the right audience
It’s about saying the right things to the right audience AT THE RIGHT TIME. You have to be present for them at the right time – when they have an issue, challenge or problem that your product or service can solve.
Your contacts will forget you
Think of it this way – every time you communicate with your target audience, you refill the sand timer – and from that moment on, it begins to empty. If you haven’t communicated again with your client; reminding them who you are and how you can help them BEFORE the sand timer runs out, then when they need your services, they will have forgotten you.
It’s about doing a few things well – all the time
Many businesses have peaks (and therefore troughs) in their marketing communications activities (for instance, a new product launch) and then things tail off. It’s great to have a burst but you need to continue it consistently. Remember the sand timer? Well, this burst approach will ensure it runs out before your next big push and that means the client has forgotten you.
Don’t get blinded by shiny new objects
This is a tough one. There are lots and lots of channels you could be using to engage with your clients but my advice is to find the few (that your clients use) that you can use well and consistently – and focus on them, rather than getting sidetracked by the latest marketing tool, new piece of software or channel.
Less is more and keep it simple are 2 thoughts that spring to mind here.
Plan ahead
If you want to keep the sand timer filled then plan ahead. This is why a marketing strategy and a marketing plan (and a content plan) is crucial – it tells you the best ways to reach your target audience and how & what you are going to say to them, and when. This ensures you are consistent with your audience communications, and you create messages that resonate with them (not just sales messages but genuinely adding value).
Most of my target audience knows this (after all it’s what they do for a lot of their clients) but it doesn’t mean they do it! Often my job is to hold a mirror up to the client and remind them what they already know! I often say, I am not teaching you anything new, just reminding you what you already know and holding you to account to do it!
Use email marketing to keep your sand timer filled
Regularly sending value-added emails to your audience is a fantastic way of keeping the sand timer filled and it should be part of your marketing strategy. If you want to know more about how to build your list and what you should be sending then sign up for my FREE masterclass. Click here or on the pic below.
