Category: Small Business Marketing

Many entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed with all the different marketing activities they want to do to grow their businesses.

One strategy to use to banish marketing overwhelm is to systemize and schedule marketing activities that need to be done to grow your business. This not only organizes your time…determining when you will perform certain marketing activities…it also helps to identify tasks you can delegate to someone to do for you more easily.

Taking the time to schedule your marketing activities is a key to ensuring you are consistently and successfully getting out the word about you and your company.

There are several formats you can use to schedule activities…

* To-do lists

* Calendaring

* Making a project management list or Gantt chart

* Sticky notes (pasted on the wall or a desk)

…and so on.

It doesn’t matter which scheduling system you use, as long as you use it consistently, and it works for you.

There are three general types of marketing activities you’ll want to put into your schedule:

1) Ongoing marketing activities

2) One-time marketing projects

3) Idea generation activities

1. Ongoing marketing activities

Ongoing everyday marketing activities are tasks you do on a regular basis, such as daily, monthly, quarterly, etc. Some examples are:

* Advertising

* Direct mail activities

* Writing articles for your eZine

* Submitting articles to article directories

* Attending live networking events

* Writing blog posts

* Conducting a monthly teleseminar

* Checking your website analytics

* Communicating with your affiliates

* Sending out press releases

* Networking on social media sites such as FaceBook, Twitter, and Linked In

* Market research

Create a chart where you list each task, along with the day of the week it will be done. When I did this with my marketing activities, I realized I had too many tasks scheduled on one day. It wasn’t any wonder why I was having difficulty getting everything done!

2. One-time marketing projects

One-time projects are projects you determine need to be done on an as-needed basis. Typical examples of this type of project are: * Developing a workshop

* Creating a new product or service offering

* Setting up a business referral partner program

* Setting up your affiliate program

* Running a one-time special promotion

* Writing a book

* Designing a new website

3. Idea generation activities

Setting time aside for “birthing” new ideas is important, because it keeps your offerings fresh and relevant to your market niche, and provides you additional opportunities to increase your income. Idea generation activities include:

* Researching new topics to address in your eZine or teleseminars

* Identifying possible joint venture partners

* Thinking about ideas for a new product, service or book

* Looking at competitors’/colleagues’ websites/blogs to keep on top with what they’re doing

* Visioning about the future direction of your company

* Quantifying your professional and personal goals

Write down a list of all the different marketing activities you currently do, and start scheduling them into your calendar and to-do lists.

To stay on track with implementing your marketing activities be sure to look at your schedule first thing in the morning, and different times throughout the day.

Commit to your marketing by having a schedule, and watch your business start to grow on a consistent basis.

Copyright 2009, Bonita L. Richter

Integrated Marketing policy is a comprehensive approach towards marketing.To understand the basics of it we can quote the definition of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) set by The American Marketing Association.The Marketing Power Dictionary describes integrated marketing as”a planning process designed to assure that all brand contacts received by a customer or prospect for a product,service,or organization are relevant to that person and consistent over time.”The objective is to ensure regularity and reliability of product message and harmonizing media usage.

The Concept

The concept,Integrated Marketing Communications encompass both online and offline marketing channels.Online marketing channels comprise search engine optimization (SEO),pay-per-click,e-mail,websites and Internet television while offline marketing channels implies traditional print such as newspaper and advertising magazine,electronics media,postal mail, public relations programs and outdoor advertising with hoardings and posters.

Reason Behind It

The integrated marketing communication program of a company is based on four Ps such as product,price,place and promotion.Evolution towards modernity in the media and advertising industry caused IMC to grow as primary strategy for the overall promotional program of the company.

The Most Effective Communications Elements

The selection of marketing elements for proposed integrated marketing communications is to create a promotion that is most effective and reliable for media platforms.While some marketers believes in the breadth of appeal some keeps faith in the depth of appeal.But it is important to understand that IMC is more than just advertising and marketing.A huge amount of money is spent on integrated marketing campaigns.

Direct Marketing

It is next to impossible to cover all the aspects of integrated marketing at one go.So,we will focus on the direct aspect of it.Direct marketing is one of the most cost-effective sub-disciplines of integrated marketing.There is no better way to set up a one-to-one relationship between a potential buyer and an enterprise than direct marketing strategy.A direct message can generate instant sale or open a conversation between the consumers and the company or simply provide information about products and services.

Direct marketing entails direct commercial communication with consumers or other business enterprises.Through this kind of marketing the marketer asks the prospect to perform a specific task such as visiting their website or calling a toll-free number for product and service information.The aim is to get instant response.

The commonest form of it is direct postal mail and e-mail.Consumers’addresses are retrieved from the database and e-mails are sent to them.Postal mails are also sent to customers belonging to a particular area.

Telemarketing is the second most used form of direct marketing where advertisers directly contact the consumer over phone.

The process of door to door leaflet distribution is also used widely by especially the fast food industry.

Many of the marketers find direct marketing attractive as it helps in receiving direct response almost instantly.But the flip side is that recipient (consumer) may find it disturbing if it is irrelevant to him/her and may block the sender to avoid receiving such mails on the web.But one way or the other the marketers have the scope to say that the campaign led direct response from the prospects.

Source by Steve McMains

Botox marketing or Botox advertising choices are everywhere, as aesthetic procedures and dermal fillers become increasingly popular. A Botox directory online, occasionally offering Restylane, Collagen and Juvederm resources additionally, is a perfect point to begin contacting potential customers. Advertisements for Botox, such as radio, custom print materials, TV and more have been successful. Botox branding kits so too have a great place. Yet, as increasing clients like web sources, Botox advertisements and marketing online work better than offline sources. No effective Botox branding is maximized with no web presence to pull leads to a aesthetic surgery clinic’s website. Juvederm, Botox, Restylane and similar marketing kits, like custom marketing materials, are often less effective without a potent web component. Online advertising for many dermal fillers such as botox  are a phenomena that we’re just now realizing the beginning of. Artefill, Hylaform, Captique, Sculptra, Cosmoderm, Perlane and other items for wrinkles are great with regard to demand. Other modern dermal fillers to market are Restylane, Obagi, Juvederm, Radiesse, collagenand others, along with Botox.

Botox print advertisements, as well as radio and TV, are being performed with much success since the beginning of Botox. Yet getting online to market Botox makes good sense as well. This is something that most cosmetic surgeons might have to do on their own, as an aggressive online place is essential. A perfect Restylane, Juvederm, Artefill and Botox directory ad can aid offices to find fresh clients in every town. Botox marketing kits and materials, like print, TV, Radio and other advertising move as a unit with a web presence synergistically, bolstering  your overall permanent results in advertisements. Botox focused advertising universally does perform.

Again, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane and other marketing kits, custom TV, materials, radio ads and the rest might perform cooperatively with online options.  Ultimately how great is your Botox marketing and branding kit for this lacking the right influx of fresh clients to get it? This is the perk of marketing for Botox, Restaylane, Juverem and the rest on the web. It has been proven to be worthy in boosting the level of likely customers that you may get with any other Botox branding, marketing, advertising and additional materials. Advertising on the Internet may offset TV, print, radio ads in the upcoming future, although at present, the greatest worth is simply getting your real-life marketing before more people. Also, Restylane, Juvederm, Collagen, Obagi, Radiesse or others will additionally advertise successfully in this market. Added treatments to market at right now may be Artefill, Hylaform, Captique, Sculptra, Cosmoderm, Perlane and more.

Botox marketing is effective as treatment for wrinkles have been one of the quickest-growing cosmetic options in the market. In 2001, Botox advertising  delivered extremely well, as even more than 1.6 million people got treatments, an explosion of 46 percent over the previous year. Even more requested than breast enhancement operations, Botox is regarded by most as the ultimate of providing youthful appearances.  The large demand only means that individuals are seeking botox and additional facial injectables, like Perlane, Restylane, collagen, Radiesse, Artefill, Juvederm and Cosmoderm.

And again, custom branding with Botox is increasingly crucial only after you actually get the  attention of people. This will be performed more and more on the web. As more clients go on the Internet, the ideal elements of advertisements will  do the best. Drive your web branding kit by getting listed in a Restylane, Juvederm, Botox and Artefill directory. The best information for Botox marketing and Botox advertising is the trend is headed upward. Botox advertisements will tend to draw leads for some time. This is very much the scenario for Juvederm too. In addition, not like several pharmaceuticals many times in limited supply, Botox treatments are both key to the manufacturer’s  growth and naturally the company is unlikely to do anything to jeopardize that. It is likely fairly reasonable to make. The price of Botox cosmetic is not expected to increase. Pharmaceutical market place specialists also predict that marketing for Botox can be very worthwhile. They’ll definitely make more money when they grow the market share; Botox advertising or marketing will help to fulfill this.

Source by kent harper

Agricultural Marketing in India

* G.JAYALAKSHMI

Introduction

            The importance of marketing in agriculture is very well illustrated by saying, “that a good farmer has one eye on the plough and the other on the market”. This is true when agriculture is mainly for subsistence; and now, even Indian agriculture is becoming commercialized. In these days of commercial agriculture, it will be more fit to say, “a good farmer has only his hands on the plough but the eyes on the market

Since agriculture constitutes a major part of the economy, marketing of agricultural products also assumes considerable importance in our context.

            Marketed surplus is the amount of agricultural produce that is brought to the market for sale after what is retained by the producers for their own consumption. Hence it will be less than total production.  It is difficult to give a correct estimation of marketed surplus, since it differs according to crop, place, season and general state of the economy.

            Marketing finance is also important since the small producer will experience difficulty in waiting for payment from the whole-sale buyer, if the time lag is too long.

            Proper storage and handling facilities are important because otherwise, the produce will perish and become unmarketable and unusable.

Indian Farmers and Marketing Disabilities:

The present system of agricultural marketing is not well-organized and the farmers have to depend largely on the middlemen for the disposal of the farm’s yield who have no hesitation in taking advantage of the farmer’s dependence upon them.

The real evil is the tendency of these intermediaries who exploit the ignorance and helplessness of the farmers to increase their own profit.  The malpractices in the present system of agricultural marketing are very well known.  The Rural Credit Survey Committee described the position as follows:

“while standards of marketing have improved, in most of the relatively few regulated markets which have been established, a number of malpractices still exist even in them since personnel and enforcement are two great problems, not always sufficiently attended to, much less solved.

 Sometimes, the malpractices take fresh lease of unauthorized life just outside the market, for the private interests are strong, the advantages of evading strict regulation are many and the producer is in no position to seek eventual advantage and protection from law at the cost of the immediate disadvantage involved in the loss of powerful customers, which are also sources of credit and finance.  Moreover, there is a very great lacuna that no control at all is exercised over village sales, in which the primary producer is literally, legally and in practice at the mercy of the village trader”.

Frequently large samples are also taken by the buyers with payment.  The cultivators are not paid for them even when no sale is affected. Generally the transactions take place on a sample basis.  Consequently, the producer does not get the full worth of his produce.  The reputation of Indian agricultural producers in the world market is low.

The villagers have practically no contact with the outside world not are they in touch with the trend of market process and they mostly depend on hearsay reports received form the village bania who is always busy in earning profits from buyers by making them fools to the ignorant villagers.

In India, the following are some of the common defects agricultural marketing:

1. Lack of organization,

2. Forced sales,

3. Presence of middlemen,

4. Numerous market charges,

 5. Market malpractices,

6. Lack of standard weights and measures,

7. Inadequate storage,

 8. No standardization of price and quality,

9. Lack of marketing finance, and

10. Want of proper market information.

Requisites of good marketing

In the first place the quality of produce should be good. Good quality can fetch better price and confidence which can be assumed by using best seeds, by adopting correct methods of harvesting , by grading the product by storing it well and avoiding malpractices like adulteration and misrepresentation etc.

The second essential of good marketing is the staying power of the seller. Therefore, the agriculturists may have the staying power to sell so that they may get better prices after the harvest. The peasant should, therefore, have enough reserve to pay land revenue and meeting other needs.

The third essential of a good marketing is the good means of communication and transport facilities.

Fourthly, there should be conducted markets at convenient distance, and lastly, good marketing eliminates exploitation of the seller and reduce the number of intermediaries.

Source by G.Jayalakshmi

The IT Revolution is at hand. Before, IT is only associated with computers. Now, IT extends its services to other branches like Medicine, Robotics, Banking, and a lot more. Marketing, a small branch of commerce, was able to extend more of its tentacles by utilizing IT’s services through online or internet promotion.

From the word “market” alone, one is capable of grasping its meaning. Since, the actual selling and small time promotion are done in the market, thus, it is but right to say that marketing is the business of advertising, promoting and the selling of goods and services. Online marketing follows this exact concept but only done through online advertisements and/or promotions and can be accessed by anybody through the internet.

After man discovered agriculture and improving its techniques, man was able to produce more food products which, unfortunately, cannot be consumed by his family or his entire community in due time. So before those products will expire, man decided to trade it for something else like precious stones, other food products or services. After some time, the use of money as medium for payments, made almost anybody rich by merely selling goods in the market. The presence of competitors makes man innovative in disposing and selling his products, and one such useful technique is marketing (through advertisements and promotions).

Apart from merely stacking goods in the market for consumers to purchase, there are other simple ways to market one’s goods. Public speaking, as means of public advertising, easily catches the attention of many consumers. The way marketers of food supplement products perform public speaking (or advertising done through verbal communication) that promise easy money and wealth overnight, entice the people into purchasing products and becoming marketers as well. Marketing strategies greatly improved, together with the birth of television and the utilization of print. Promotion of goods are mostly done through print advertisements because almost everybody can read and purchase newspapers, magazines and other printed circulation. The use of television advertisement, employing advanced graphical techniques, helps a lot in affecting the consumer’s psychology into purchasing goods or services.

With marketing as a key player in affecting one’s senses into purchasing a product, many business enthusiasts thought of utilizing the advancing and unstoppable progress of online accessibility. Today, it is common to see advertisements and promotions upon one single entry in one website. The advertisements that all of us can see in the internet are the products of online marketing.

There are several ways on how to market goods using the online marketing. These are: (1) Search Engine Optimization, (2) Banner Advertising, (3) Newsgroup or Forums, (4), Email Advertising..

What is fortunate in online marketing, is that a simple product could reach out to millions of people throughout the world without spending much in actual and manual promotions in different countries.

Source by Paulita C. Lobrin