DEFINITION
Marketing
is the action or business of promoting and selling products or
services. According to The Business Dictionary, marketing is the
management process through which goods and services move from concept
to the customer. American Marketing Association [AMA] defines
marketing as the activity, set of institutions and processes for
creating, communicating delivering and exchanging offerings that have
value for customers, clients, partners and society at large.
NB:
The
above are just a few of the vast definitions that are present to the
explaining of the word marketing.
IMPORTANCE
OF MARKETING
Marketing
is not an expense to any business rather its and investment that is
worth it. One can never grow their business without marketing it out
there thus marketing is a must.
People need to know who you are, what you are offering them (products
or services) and why they should consider you among others. Thus
without marketing it means that those who are marketing will get the
customers at your expense even if their products or services do not
match the standards required. Goo marketing is critical to the
success of any business, it is crucial in the sense that one gains
the attention of prospective consumers or clients, developing
products or services demand, turning the prospective customers into
customers.
10
POWERFUL MARKETING TIPS FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN ZIMBABWE
Some
of the tips below are the most common, efficient and most effective
to get the attention of your prospective customers that will
definitely become your customers in the near future. You might have
come across some of you were in the process of using them and they
are also the new tips that are worthy trying out so as to make your
business successful and help it grow.
-
marketing research
As
the words are self-explanatory. Market research is the finding out or
the survey that one does in order to get to know about the
competitors that you have in the game. This is of paramount
importance as it helps in many ways. The first and far most is that
you know whether you are not undercharging your customers or you are
over changing them. It also helps to determine how your product and
services will be accepted among different demographics. Marketing
research in establishing which segment of consumers will have an
interest in your product and services. If it is in the case of a shop
you get the knowledge of the place where you should establish it.
Enables one to create a marketing plan for the business that is not
only effective but also cost efficient.
2.
BUSINESS CARDS
This
is the small but effective marketing tool that any person who is
determined to see their business flourish would have and use. The
card should comprise of the company name or the name of the business,
business contacts, email, physical address and the web address if you
have one. This helps your customers they can get in touch with you
anytime ad also for feedback. The business cards are important in the
case of that you meet the prospective customers away from work and
for them to get in touch with you when need arises the need to have
the contact. Some may say that they can put the number in the persons
mobile but in reality names are forgotten and in the process you lose
your customer. Thus the card is important. Marketing is never an
expense rather it is an investment.
-
SMALL HANDOUTS TO PROSPECTS
Print
the best small handouts to give to the prospects in your targeted
market area. Usually people hate reading a lot of thing thus make it
a point that the handouts have the precise and straight to the point
information about your business. It can also include the prices of
the staff that if they are products and also images of the products.
The images should be attractive, in other words they should be eye
catching. If it is a service that you are offering try to dramatize
it on the flier. This interest the prospects thus they would be
tempted to come and try you out. Without you knowing it they would be
you customers in no time.
4.
CUSTOMIZE YOUR MOBILES (PHONE)
It
is much importance to separate our social life from our business
life. Get a contract line or business line from a network of your
choice. The advantage of this is that you can actually customize it
to suite your field. For example a customer send you a text when you
are busy with other things. It actually sends a reply automatically.
This helps also in the sense that your prospects would not feel
ignored as they are welcomed and notified that you would get back to
them as soon as you are free. The issue of how to answer the calls is
also essential. For people to get to know that you are a
well-established company and know that you really mean business the
reception when answering the call should say a lot. For example;
“This
is V.Kae collections. Get your everyday fragrance at the lowest
possible price. Good afternoon.”
The
prospective customer would now be in a position of wanting to know
what you have in stock and the price. Before you even know it you
would be having a lifetime customer.
5.
SUPRISE YOUR CUSTOMERS
In
this life you never know what makes a person comes back to your shop
every day. These things maybe so small but mean a lot to someone. For
your business to blossom into that dream that you have always thought
of why not tryout customizing your carrier bags. Then if someone buys
from you give them a surprise small gift in the bag. A sweet can go a
long way or even a note that shows gratitude. The note can comprise
the following words;
“Thank
you for shopping with us,
Have
a good day.
V.Kae
Collections.”
This
can go a long way with keeping your customers and attracting more
through references from the existing ones that you have.
6.
MAKE SECOND OFFERS TO YOU CUSTOMERS
After
your customers have bought products from you its best that you
keeping contact with them. Then give them discounts on their second
purchase of the same products. If it is a service that you provided
try making sure that you offer them a discount on the some service if
they consider to do business with you for the second time. Though
this discount second offer should not strain you budget. Remove at
least 10-15% only unless your business is well established you can go
further than that. This offer should also have a dead line or a
limited duration. This will help for urgency reasons.
7.
NEWSLETTERS
It
costs a lot more to make a sell to a new customer than to an existing
one. Make newsletters that you send to the existing customers to keep
them coming and they would also not forget to send others to check
out the service or the products that you have. In these newsletters
you can consider putting the new arrivals that you have in stock.
Also you can notify them current discounts or promotions that you
have currently. Who knows the outcome, I bet no one thus try it out.
8.
OPEN HOUSE / SEMINARS
Hosting
an event is a way of gaining face to face time with prospects as well
as putting your products and services on the global name and demand
list. In the process make sure that you get good programming that
they would be a nice turnout and media coverage. In this case, charge
an attendance fee and limit the number of people that would attend
the seminar. This adds value to your product or service. People would
actually notice the level of seriousness that you have with your
business. Making the seminar or open house free would be so generous
but it can also be misinterpreted to you being desperate. In business
never show the prospects and customers that you are desperate even if
you are.
9.
BATERING
This
is done for the benefit of others to get to use your products and
service you can exchange with their products. As companies you are
guaranteed to get feedback on your goods and services. This helps the
business to grow bigger and in a positive way since you would be in a
position of getting feedback and correct were there need to be
corrections or just improvement.
10.
ROTATE THE MARKETING TACTICS AND VARY THE APPROACH
This
is the last of the ten tips that one can use to market their business
especially in Zimbabwe. All the above tips work well when they are
used in a cycle or rotation manner. There is no method or tactic that
is less useful than the other. They all complement each other rather
than they contradict.
HAPPY
MARKETING. WISH YOU THE BEST IN USING THE 10 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL
MARKETING OF YOUR BUSINESS. ALWAYS REMEMBER “MARKETING
IS NEVER AN EXPENSE RATHER IT IS AN INVESTMENT”
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