10 Marketing Tools and Solutions Worth Investing In
From small to large businesses, the need for effective marketing strategies is ever increasing. Marketers need to carefully plan ahead to successfully move their companies forward.
In this difficult economy it is essential to allocate the marketing budget in the most effective manner possible. Here are the top 10 marketing solutions that need to be considered for 2013 and beyond.
1. Market Forecasting
Spotting emerging trends forms the core of a good marketing plan. Future thinking allows the early identification of the characteristics and statistics of the target market.
2. Mobile Marketing
The mobile phone is quickly becoming one of the most important points of interaction with users. Mobile has been the main form of internet access in many emerging markets, and with the rise of cheaper Smartphones this trend is set to continue. Mobile advertising, app creation and mobile optimized sites are essential in maximizing marketing reach to the whole target audience.
3. Marketing Measurement
It is no longer satisfactory to simply spending thousands or millions of dollars on advertising for branding purposes alone. Advertising budget need to be used efficiently by having accountability. By measuring site statistics the advertising ROI can be calculated and ad campaigns can be optimized to bring in the most revenue possible.
4. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
CRM is an important model for a company to implement. Effectively managing all the interactions with existing and future customers allows for a better understanding of the customer’s value and improved business decision making.
5. Customer Experience Management (CEM)
This methodology involves putting a greater focus on the needs of an individual customer. Adjusting business processes and operations to meet the needs and expectations of users will result in a much better experience for customers.
6. Brand Strategy
Branding will eventually play an important part in the success of businesses of all sizes. A brand strategy will promote and encourage customer loyalty and will determine how the public perceives the company. Creating a strong brand image will give a business a major edge over its competitors.
7. Innovation Strategy
In many markets, a business must take a proactive approach to product development and marketing. Coming up with new and innovative ideas can help propel a company ahead of the competition. This will often mean a large investment in R&D, but the end result can secure the future of the company.
8. Multi-Channel Integration
There are many channels and platforms a business can use to reach new prospects and customers. Creating a presence on multiple sales and marketing channels can increase both the user base and overall revenue. For example, an online retailer may sell its stock on not just its own e-commerce website, but also on marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon.
9. Social Networking.
The usage of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube highlights the importance of online communities. Having an open and genuine relationship with customers will increase user recommendations, which is by far one of the most effective marketing strategies in existence.
10. Social Media Analysis
With the massive number of people on social networks it is important to not just interact with the public and customers, but to also monitor all this activity. Analyzing all the available data can reveal many new insights that can shape the future marketing efforts of a company.
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