Small Business | Forum « marketing strategy questions?

marketing strategy questions? (16 posts)

Topic tags: marketing strategy

Dea Irby said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Marketing strategies for various businesses will have some similarities but also some differences therefore one size does not fit all.
However, there are probably some basic questions you ask that create a framework, such as
“What is the budget?”
“Will you outsource the work?”
”Who is your target group?”
What questions do you think are the essential ones you would ask?
@deairby | # | Top
Rich Brooks said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@deairby
We usually ask clients these 3 questions:
- What are your business goals?
- Who is your audience?
- What do they want to accomplish at your website?
Budget, huh? How did we skip that one!?!
Another one we’re asking now is “what is your level of commitment/how many hours a week can you put towards your digital marketing?”
@rich-brooks | # | Top
Joan Muschamp (Fagnani) said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@deairby @rich-brooks really hit the keys. I would also add: What does your ideal customer look like? and Is there a defined geographic area?
@joanmuschampfagnani | # | Top
Frederic Gonzalo said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@deairby @rich-brooks @joanmuschampfagnani All great questions to ask, that form an excellent framework to a marketing strategy. I feel, however, there is one essential question missing that ought to come before all these ones: Why?
It is often implied, but it still a question I ask when discussing with clients or colleagues working on a marketing plan. Asking Why sends you back to the essence, the vision, mission and values a company holds. Once everybody is clear on this, then we can address the what, the how and the when (and how much $$, of course!)
@fredericgonzalo | # | Top
Dea Irby said
1 year, 4 months ago:
great answers, thanks, I’m about to meet with someone about their sm presence and evaluate their marketing strategy… like in a few minutes….thanks @fredericgonzalo @joanmuschampfagnani @rich-brooks
@deairby | # | Top
Trudy Phillips said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@deairby, Initially, I ask them to look at and think about their vision and mission. That gets them honed in on why they are in business in the first place.
@trudy | # | Top
Debbie Lynn Butler said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@deairby Ask about the target group’s greatest challenge, too. There is a big difference in marketing to people who want to save time and to those who want to save money.
@debbielynnava | # | Top
Dea Irby said
1 year, 4 months ago:
good points, thanks @trudy @debbielynnava
@deairby | # | Top
Matthew O’Neill said
1 year, 3 months ago:
We always ask where they see themselves in 5 years.
It’s important to see where the clients want to go so you know in which direction to push the marketing to acheive that goal.
@matthewoneill | # | Top
Dea Irby said
1 year, 3 months ago:
really good question @matthewoneill
@deairby | # | Top
Don Purdum said
1 year, 3 months ago:
@deairby
One I don’t think I saw this one, “What is the purpose of your marketing/website?”
For me, that is the starting point. It informs me if they are looking at marketing, information, education, resource, or ecommerce.
Marketing is one of the components 95% of the time. Everyone wants new prospects.
Once we know the purpose, we can move on to how it is incorporated into their companies mission and core values. Then we can finally get to the what and how.
But for me, it starts with the “purpose.”
@donpurdum | # | Top
Alan Martin said
1 year, 3 months ago:
A crucial step in the social media strategy is to look at a business, its customers and establish what social media channels they are active on. No point in being very active on LinkedIn if that’s not where your customers are!
If the business is a going concern you can ask existing customers or you can survey them etc but I am looking for suggestions for sources of data that can add another dimension to this process, as often response rates can be very low and it is good to have a bit of secondary data to back up your decisions.
I would be interested to hear what methods and sources others use for this process?
@chatmarketing | # | Top
Cas McCullough said
1 year, 3 months ago:
Every good strategy starts with goals and objectives so I usually start with: What are your goals? What are you aiming to achieve and why? The other questions then follow.
@casmccullough | # | Top
Dea Irby said
1 year, 3 months ago:
Got to answer the what and the why. Good point, Cas. @casmccullough Trudy also agrees with this. @trudy
@deairby | # | Top
Phil Lauterjung said
1 year, 3 months ago:
Good questions from everyone, but I’ll add my two cents anyway.
Asking a business owner, especially a small biz owner, who their target audience is will usually result in too broad of a spectrum. Mainly because they don’t want to miss any possible sales. However, there are really good customers (the ones who are profitable and give you referrals) and there are some really bad customers.
So you have to ask questions to help them narrow their focus to a well defined client profile of a really good customer. Then you need to talk to some of their really good customers and find out why they do business with your client. You can’t let them get away with answers like “great customer service” or “really nice people”. You have to dig deep to get the kind of language and terms that will help you develop a marketing message that will truly set them apart from their competitors.
Once you have done that you will then have the foundation to build a strategy.
@phil_lauterjung | # | Top
Dea Irby said
1 year, 3 months ago:
great addition, Phil, thanks @phil_lauterjung
@deairby | # | Top