When first building your business, you were aware of the usual marketing techniques that others often used and were advised to follow in their footsteps.

After you have been in business for awhile and your confidence has grown along with it, did you stop to think about your methods of marketing or did you stick to the same way of advertising your services and products?

In the long term, there are some techniques that will work better than others and knowing them inside out will help to keep your business growing.

Automation

Once set up, a well organized, automated marketing campaign can save you time and help to grow your business if done properly. Combined with email marketing and set up so that each contact receives information and offers that are relevant to them, your buyers will be making informed, smart decisions on the products and services that are of the most use to them. Educating new clients on your business and promoting feedback can all be done without losing that personal touch.

Email Marketing

Email marketing has always been the most useful way to reach your customers. Whether or not you decide to automate this part of your campaign, reaching out to your customers by email is very cost effective and provides them with information while still feeling personal. Your subscribers can be grouped by age, location, male or female, interests and more. If your business isn’t virtual but is a brick and mortar business, set up a way to collect email addresses from your customers. Make sure your newsletters are relevant to your subscribers and target your offers to your most loyal customers.

Telephone

Actually speaking to your customers and potential customers may seem like an outdated method but with social media overload and many people tiring of the constant emails and technical advertising, you could find that a certain number of your customers appreciate the chance to speak to a real person. This way you can answer any questions they may have and at the same time find out what your customers really want. Sometimes this can put you a step ahead of your competition.

Integration

A newer method of marketing is to integrate your advertising and communication by combining social media, email and mobile. Some companies also include print. Emails cans also be designed for mobile phones and if you haven’t yet looked into this, it is a good method of reaching customers who are very attached to their smartphones.

Outsourcing

One method of setting up any new marketing campaign is to outsource it to someone who is familiar with the different techniques. This will give you the time to work on other things in your business and leave the details of marketing to the professionals. Consider a virtual team who is familiar with the type of marketing you are most interested in, set up a call and discuss where you would like to go with your business. They can take care of the rest, keeping you informed of all details and decisions.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2013

image courtesy of www.ors.od.nih.gov/

Recruiting and Coaching Employees

The present job market is in a state of flux and many small business owners don’t have the knowledge to ask the important questions that will help them find the perfect employee(s). A virtual team is current on technology and administration as well as other necessary requirements for small businesses and they can help you find just the right person for each job. If any of your present employees are excellent at what they do but have yet to reach their full potential, a member of the team can work with them to help them achieve their maximum performance levels. Coaching may be something that you aren’t familiar with but it is the best way to work with a high quality staff and through mentoring and counselling, support them in reaching their goals.

Making Your Presence Known

Many businesses use social media and would like to use it more effectively. While there are at least ten major and well known social media sites, not all will work well with your business. Where can your business use social media most effectively? Virtual teams are well versed in all forms of social media as they work with it extensively. Putting your time and energy into areas where it will work best for you is something they can help with.

Setting and Tracking Your Goals

It’s very easy, once your business starts to grow, to let your business plans slide. Setting short term goals is every bit as important as what you are looking for long term. Work with a specialized virtual assistant to put a plan in place, one that includes keeping track of each small goal on your way to meeting the big ones. Celebrating the small steps gives you the boost to keep moving forward. Goal setting not only helps you recognize your direction but it also gives you motivation. You can measure your progress and focus on the most important points.

Client Follow up

The most common reason for a business to stagnate or even lose customers is through lack of follow up. Even if you already have a method in place to contact your customers after a sale, consistency is what will keep them coming back. A virtual team has processes in place to contact customers in such a way that you will find out what they like about your company and also what you could do to improve it and this is what business owners rarely hear. You want to know what your customers really think of your products and services.

Finding the perfect team to work with is easier if you contact a company with experience and enough virtual members to ensure your needs are met. Look over the services that the DemGen team offers to pick and choose what will work best for your business.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2013

Image courtesy of engadget.com