Sunday, October 2, 2011

Small Business Should Stay Tuned to Market Trends

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By : Michael Griffiths ?? 4 or more times read
Submitted 2011-10-01 23:54:51

If new marketing trends are anything to go by, conventional business marketing tactics may be on their way out. Once upon a time, direct mail was considered the best marketing tool - today, many folks consider it as a waste of paper; a few years back email marketing was the rage - today, it is considered as spam and social marketing is taking over. The trends are changing fast and every business must stay in touch with what's coming. Here's a guide on what's happening:

Quality evangelism
Small business websites need online evangelists to talk about and recommend their products. An online evangelist needs not be a celebrity - he can be an ordinary person whose posts have gotten a lot of followers and because of his humongous number of followers, he is considered as a thought leader. If such people post about products, then it is likely that their followers will listen to them. It's like having a product certified by a reputed organization!

Google Places and Mobile marketing
Every small business must list itself on Google Places. Millions of people use Google Places daily to find local businesses. A map shows up and directs them to their desired destinations. So, if your small business is listed on the map, it is likely that you will get business or at least get a chance to win business. That was about Google Maps. Businesses must also engage in mobile marketing, which includes customizing ecommerce websites for mobile and development of ecommerce-enabled mobile apps. Every business must start working on their mobile marketing plans if they have not yet started.

Group deals
Everybody loves a bargain and websites that offer group deals help customers lay their hands on heavily discounted offers. The group deal website passes on a hefty discount only if a specified number of people buy the product. This helps the merchant dispose of his stocks in a jiffy. Group deals are also sent on mobile and these websites also geo target people moving about in localities in which registered merchants run their business. Offering group deals is a new trend and makes for an excellent small business marketing tactic. Businesses can enrol with a group deal website and offer their products at a big discount. If the customer likes the product, he will approach the company directly the next time he wants to buy.

Using social media for brand building
Companies have started tracking their online reputation. Many companies also use their Twitter and Facebook pages for listening to customers and solving their problems in a hurry. Social media is fast becoming a proxy CRM tool and must be included in every business marketing plan. The major social networks are Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+1.

Multichannel marketing
Business marketing must embrace all channels of marketing - direct mail, social media, PPC, online ads, banners, SEO, mobile, offline, link exchange, email marketing, tablet marketing, and every other savvy marketing technique that will be introduced. The days of silo marketing are over - multichannel is the way to go.

Aside from these, small business marketing teams can subscribe to retail and tech newsletters that keep their readers informed of the happening and coming trends. Marketing tactics are fast changing and small businessmen must keep up to speed with the latest.

Author Resource:- Michael Griffiths is the CEO and Founder of My Small Business Marketing Guru. Helping small business owners generate more leads, clients and increase profits with relationship based marketing strategies. We invite you to get your free black mask marketing resources and DVDs when you visit http://www.mysmallbusinessmarketingguru.com.au
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By: Michael Griffiths

If new marketing trends are anything to go by, conventional business marketing tactics may be on their way out. Once upon a time, direct mail was considered the best marketing tool - today, many folks consider it as a waste of paper; a few years back email marketing was the rage - today, it is considered as spam and social marketing is taking over. The trends are changing fast and every business must stay in touch with what's coming. Here's a guide on what's happening:

Quality evangelism
Small business websites need online evangelists to talk about and recommend their products. An online evangelist needs not be a celebrity - he can be an ordinary person whose posts have gotten a lot of followers and because of his humongous number of followers, he is considered as a thought leader. If such people post about products, then it is likely that their followers will listen to them. It's like having a product certified by a reputed organization!

Google Places and Mobile marketing
Every small business must list itself on Google Places. Millions of people use Google Places daily to find local businesses. A map shows up and directs them to their desired destinations. So, if your small business is listed on the map, it is likely that you will get business or at least get a chance to win business. That was about Google Maps. Businesses must also engage in mobile marketing, which includes customizing ecommerce websites for mobile and development of ecommerce-enabled mobile apps. Every business must start working on their mobile marketing plans if they have not yet started.

Group deals
Everybody loves a bargain and websites that offer group deals help customers lay their hands on heavily discounted offers. The group deal website passes on a hefty discount only if a specified number of people buy the product. This helps the merchant dispose of his stocks in a jiffy. Group deals are also sent on mobile and these websites also geo target people moving about in localities in which registered merchants run their business. Offering group deals is a new trend and makes for an excellent small business marketing tactic. Businesses can enrol with a group deal website and offer their products at a big discount. If the customer likes the product, he will approach the company directly the next time he wants to buy.

Using social media for brand building
Companies have started tracking their online reputation. Many companies also use their Twitter and Facebook pages for listening to customers and solving their problems in a hurry. Social media is fast becoming a proxy CRM tool and must be included in every business marketing plan. The major social networks are Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+1.

Multichannel marketing
Business marketing must embrace all channels of marketing - direct mail, social media, PPC, online ads, banners, SEO, mobile, offline, link exchange, email marketing, tablet marketing, and every other savvy marketing technique that will be introduced. The days of silo marketing are over - multichannel is the way to go.

Aside from these, small business marketing teams can subscribe to retail and tech newsletters that keep their readers informed of the happening and coming trends. Marketing tactics are fast changing and small businessmen must keep up to speed with the latest.

Author Resource:->??Michael Griffiths is the CEO and Founder of My Small Business Marketing Guru. Helping small business owners generate more leads, clients and increase profits with relationship based marketing strategies. We invite you to get your free black mask marketing resources and DVDs when you visit http://www.mysmallbusinessmarketingguru.com.au

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