Common Marketing Errors That Will Destroy Your Business!
Errors happen regardless of ‘what type’ of business industry
you’re operating. Employees make critical errors on a daily
basis. This is often due to the company’s size, the number
of employees, and the inability for management to review
departmental progress. To avoid some of the critical
marketing errors that occur, you need to recognize and
evaluate your strategies.
Lacking a Marketing Plan
Most small business owners don’t have a marketing blueprint.
Many lack a working marketing plan because of the manner
used to fund their enterprise. It should not be surprising
to learn that over half of small businesses begin with very
little start-up capital because they do not seek investors
to help fund their enterprise.
Success in any business depends upon a carefully
constructed marketing plan. You would not go on a road
trip without a map, so why go into business without a plan
to guide you on the journey? Going into business is
inviting failure and if you simply break the marketing down
into its core elements, you will find that you feel more
confident about your business and its chances of success.
Ignoring the Market
When, where, what, and who are all good questions to ask
yourself. Not assessing the market is a common error. The
audience that you are targeting must be attainable. If it
is not, then failure awaits.
You want to know who will be buying your company’s services
or products. You will need a list of the demographics of
your target audience.
You also need to know where your potential customers are
also where your competition has its customer base. If your
company depends on traffic from the street, you will want
to know about the area immediately surrounding your
business.
“What” is a reference to any potential limits. Location
will always be a huge factor. Knowing the location of
your competition’s customer base is great because then you
will know if there are any limitations that need to be
addressed.
Products and Services that Interchange
It is not uncommon for business owners to go from one
endeavor to the next without being specific. People become
confused when this happens because they do not know
precisely what kind of products or services are actually
being sold. Such business consider themselves “full
service” providers for the customer and while this might
generate more profits it cannot help but confuse the
customer.
No Business Plan
Marketing 101-”Don’t begin a business without a Business
Plan!” A business plan built on the promises and actions
of others is doomed. The “dream” needs to be real and
believable. Each step should be calculated and achieved by
the efforts of one person - you. The company needs a
foundation built upon the owners experience and knowledge.
Not Responding to Customers
In the fast pace of today’s business professional, an
immediate response from the provider is expected. A slow
response leads only to a loss of business. Take the
holidays for example.
With little or no time to spare, a customer dashes into the
department store and is depressed by the sight of 50 people
ahead of him in line.
A. Does he wait patiently in line for his turn?
B. Will the manager open up another line?
Of course, the answer is (B). In order to keep the customer
happy, the retail manager opens another register to
accommodate the crowd.
It is easy to avoid some of the more common marketing
mistakes once you see that you are guilty of committing
them. Plot a course of action and check progress monthly.
You may want to invest in a business consultant to help you
get everything in order. It could be money well spent.
David Kingston runs a very interesting website at
FAT Marketing,
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teach you how to get loads of free targeted traffic.