Many businesses overlook the importance of establishing a solid foundation before getting stuck into their marketing activity - which is probably why you’re not seeing the results you were hoping for.

Let’s go back to basics. Although it may be obvious to you, it may not be obvious to your team. Write down your goals, identify your target audience and create key messaging that talks directly to your customer. Set time aside for planning. 

It’s essential that communication is aligned and that your team is on the same page. Better communication leads to better marketing, and all the tiny details in between contribute to the bigger picture - your marketing strategy.

Start creating an effective marketing strategy for your business by using this step-by-step guide:

1. Define your business goals

Ask yourself, “What do you want to achieve in the next 5-10 years?” and “Where do you see the company going?” Be open and honest in your approach. Are you looking to increase brand awareness, grow your social media presence, or generate more enquiries for a particular product or service? Setting clear, measurable goals will help guide your strategy.

2. Understand your target audience

Who is your ideal customer? What do they look like, and which platform will you use to reach them? Analyse their behavior and keep them in mind with every email you send, content you post or advert you create. If you have different audiences for different products, tailor your marketing for more meaningful connections to help engage and retain your customers. 

3. Analyse your competitors

Start doing your research. It’s important to know who’s on your doorstep and trying to do what you’re doing. Analysing your competitors helps position you within the market by highlighting their strengths and weaknesses and identifying any potential gaps you could fill. Note what makes your business different from theirs. How can yours be better? If there’s a lot of competition, it’s time to get creative to help your business stand out from the crowd.

4. Key messaging

Whatever your service or product, there will be key messaging that can highlight your unique selling points (USPs) and encourage customers to buy. Identify the key messaging and tap into the customers’ pain points - not just explaining what the product is, but why they need it and why they should choose you. People don’t want to be “sold to” anymore; they want to feel cared about, so it’s important to make your messaging meaningful.

5. Set a budget 

Ensure you set a budget, whether it’s £0 or £1,000, and set expectations from the start. Be prepared to adjust your budget as needed and allocate resources based on potential return on investment (ROI). Not having a budget is still a form of budgeting, and you can achieve a lot with very little. Recognising this can significantly impact your planning - you can prioritise spending, cut costs, and optimise your activities. 

If you’re a business owner trying to juggle marketing and wondering how you’ll have time to create an effective marketing strategy, we don’t blame you. Marketing requires dedication, passion and creativity and you don’t want to mess it up by leaving it bottom on your “to-do” list. 

Send us a message and we’ll make it happen. 

Creative Collins