Top 10 Marketing Tips for Success

1. Slash your advertising budget in half. Use the money you save to test some other simple forms of marketing. Better yet, get on the phone to the media you advertise in and ask them to reduce the prices – in this economy they are really struggling and I can almost guarantee they’ll give you a substantial saving. Use the money you save to test new forms of Marketing and Internet Marketing.

2. PR. Publicity. Expert positioning. Any time your name appears in print, you are automatically an expert. People believe what they read in the papers, see on the TV and hear on the radio. It can be as simple as writing a small column in a local paper — most of these papers are crying out for quality content. They have little money to pay freelancers to write for them and might well welcome material from you.

3. Up selling. If you don’t ask your customers to buy more from you, they’ll rarely come offering. You can build tremendous momentum with a sale if you keep offering add-ons and more “de-luxe” versions. Don’t just sell a sofa – sell it with a full carpet clean, and matching rugs.

4. Go out and meet your top 20 customers. Don’t try to sell them anything, but do ask for referrals. Take them to lunch, or even just a coffee at Starbuck’s. This is a powerful strategy simply because in this modern and hectic world, no one seems to want to do it anymore. If other people aren’t doing something, that’s a good enough reason for you to test it.

5. Networking. Go anywhere people in your target market or in synergistic businesses might hang out. You don’t have to pay to join a Breakfast club – there are lots of trade shows and events you can get in for free. The people at these events are there for the same reason you are: to do business.

6. Public Speaking. Any time you get up in front of an audience to speak about your business, you’re marketing. There are dozens of opportunities to speak to interested, qualified prospects all over the place.

7. Improve your sales skills. There is an incredible amount of top quality, free information out there on sales – you’re reading some NOW! Books aren’t expensive, either, and you can get them from the library if you don’t want to buy them yourself. Knowledge is priceless, and it’s something no one can ever take away from you. Always be prepared to invest heavily in yourself. Becoming great at selling is absolutely fundamental for business success today.

8. Emails. If you’re emailing your customers and clients less than once a week, you are definitely leaving money lying around unclaimed. Make it a habit to mail your list regularly with useful, topical content they can use. They’ll love you for it, and you will make more sales.

9. Joint ventures. Look around you and you’ll see dozens of non-competing businesses whose customers are just like yours. For instance, imagine you deal with, VOIP systems and save your customers money. Now imagine you get local accountants to let you leave your paper newsletter or other marketing piece in their waiting room. Anyone waiting for their accountant has money on their mind and will be a prime target for your “save money” message. It works.

10. Become an expert at Internet Marketing; maybe trial Pay per Click Advertising on Google. Pay per Click is the most powerful breakthrough in Marketing this century – yet very few small business owners truly understand its power.

You do not have to implement all of these, but I guarantee they will make a difference to your business. If you have a specific marketing problem, why not put me to the test by filling out the small contact form on my website?

30 Questions to test you and your business

1 Can you and your team name three things that set you apart from the competition?
2 Do you communicate the benefits of your product or service in all of your promotional literature, websites, letters etc?
3 Have you tested Telemarketing to attract new customers? Did you accurately measure the results?
4 Have you tested Direct Mail to attract new customers? Did you accurately measure the results?
5 Have you tested PR to attract new customers? Did you accurately measure the results?
6 Are your ads powerful direct response ads that compel the reader to contact you – or are they mundane like all the competition?
7 Do you advertise in certain publications just because your competitors do? Social Media - Do I or don't I?!?
8 When you speak to a potential new customer, do you use words that set you apart from the rest and immediately capture the customer’s attention?
9 Have you tested pay per click search engine advertising?
10 Have you tested Internet Advertising?
11 Do you send regular email communications to your customers and prospective customers?
12 How much time each year do your key team members spend learning leading edge sales skills?
13 Do you have an excellent lead generation process in place?
14 Do you set up an ongoing communication with qualified leads consisting of phone calls, letters and emails?
15 Do you obtain and use testimonials from your best customers?
16 Do you have an excellent referrals systems in place?
17 Did you know there are more than 90 ways of obtaining referrals?
18 Do you offer something of value to your website visitors in exchange for their contact details?
19 Do you know how to write a press release to instantly grab the attention of the person reading it?
20 Do you personalise your email newsletters?
21 Do you know the most important piece of marketing information there is – your clients’ birthdays!
22 Do your team understand that the best way to sell is to ask questions?
23 Do you rent or purchase mailing lists of your target customers?
24 Do you take amazing care of your current customers?
25 Do you know why it’s important to include a ‘PS’ in all of your sales letters?
26 Do you communicate by mail, email and telephone on a frequent basis to your current customers to ensure they know what you have to offer?
27 Do you use just one or two ways of marketing to promote your business? Do you know why you should be using between six and ten?
28 If you used ten ways to market your business have you any idea how wealthy you would be?
29 Did you know that if you follow up a mailshot with a phone call you can increase response rates by 100 – 1000%
30 Do you realise that your competitors probably answered ‘no’ to even more questions than you did!

Now here’s a Free Tip. Pick just three of the above that are important to you and take some action today to improve those areas. Print out this article and come back to the checklist in the weeks and months ahead. You can use it as a very good way of measuring your progress as you implement the marketing strategies that are going to make a difference.

Spotting the marketing thief

This is as much a post asking for advice as giving it and based on a recent problem I have experienced.
In a nutshell, I recently identified a prospect who was wasting money on unsuccessful marketing. He also had a very poor brand identity, performed badly in organic search and would have complimented Bath Marketing Consultancy’s client base due my sector experience. I approached him and we had 3 subsequent meetings lasting about 45 minutes each time and were really getting on.

He requested a formal proposal which I submitted identifying key strategies and initiatives over a 6 month period with costings…………..and he has now gone underground. Not only that, his pa has obviously been briefed to use the ‘he’s in a meeting’ line and he has blocked my number on his mobile. To top it off, the pieces of advice we discussed have been implemented………..not by me.

I believe that I am a good judge of character and this particular person never gave any indication that he was never going to engage me. However, it has become abundantly clear that he has simply used my experience and advice for his own gain.

In my numerous years in the marketing industry, I have come across certain people and situations where the personalities don’t work. In addition, there have been times when I haven’t won what I pitched for.

However, this is pretty much the first time this type of thing has happened and, in a small business community such as Bath, word can get around.

Are there any steps to prevent this type of thing happening? Do I name and shame the prospect in question to make sure he doesn’t do it to anyone else?

Advice would be much appreciated paul@bathmarketingconsultancy.co.uk

Why doesn’t my site appear organically on Google??!

A recent article I saw on Article Maker that pretty much sums up the 5 basic steps to getting your website in the best condition to be found on Google and other search engines. There is no single initiative that will tick all the SEO boxes and don’t be fooled by anyone selling inbound links to your site from someone in India posting your domain name onto link building sites!

If you want the 5 ways look at relevant content, keyword optimisation, link popularity, link quality and article publishing.

Bath Marketing suggests that you work with your web designer and marketing people to lay the foundations for a conclusive online strategy.

Advertising vs Marketing

I am often asked the difference between these 2 areas so official definitions are……….


Advertising: The paid, public, non-personal announcement of a persuasive message by an identified sponsor; the non-personal presentation or promotion by a firm of its products to its existing and potential customers.

Marketing: The systematic planning, implementation and control of a mix of business activities intended to bring together buyers and sellers for the mutually advantageous exchange or transfer of products.



Contact Bath Marketing Consultancy to see how we can help you.