Advertising can be an effective way of communicating your product or service, but the average consumer is reluctant to trust traditional advertisements. Referrals and word of mouth are much more effective ways to get your message heard because these methods come from trusted sources: friends and family. The best way to ensure positive word of mouth about your company is to create positive experiences for your existing customers. This is especially important in the age of social media, when every individual has the ability to communicate with hundreds, if not thousands, of people with a couple taps on their phone or clicks of their mouse.
12.05.2013
11.05.2013
Social media has redefined branding
Before social media, a company shaped its brand primarily through advertising. It was easy to control the message and project the desired brand image. Since the advent of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, Pinterest, etc., the game has changed dramatically. Companies now have a way to interact with customers and shape their brand in real-time. This can be either good or bad, depending on the company's approach to branding and marketing. Companies who were comfortable with and preferred a tightly controlled brand message are having a difficult time adapting to the new media landscape. On the other hand, companies who prefer a more customer-focused approach now have countless tools at their disposal.
10.02.2013
How to make your company part of the conversation
It's no secret that people prefer to read about relevant topics. When a headline mentions a recent news item or a trending topic, it is much more likely to be read. Your company may not always be in the news, but it is relatively easy to become part of the conversation. In fact, leveraging current events and interesting news items is one of the best ways to generate press for your business. Many PR strategies focus on what the particular company is doing, but it is often more effective to determine how your business can fit into what is already being talked about.
8.28.2013
Branding is more than a buzzword
Along with "innovation" and "disruptive", branding has become one of the most overused words in business. This is unfortunate since branding is such an integral part of any company. The concept of branding may seem like marketing fluff to many who believe that the products a company produces or the services they provide are the only things that matter. However, branding defines a company's identity. This doesn't just refer to the perception that others have of the company (although that is certainly an important aspect of branding), but the brand also serves as a guiding force internally. A clear brand identity sets the tone within a company, guiding operational decisions, customer service policies and company culture.
7.24.2013
Blue Ocean Strategy
Most business strategies focus on how to beat the competition. It seems obvious that the success of any business relies on its ability to outperform its rivals. However, Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim present another option in their widely-acclaimed business book "Blue Ocean Strategy". The book argues that you can actually make competition irrelevant by creating uncontested market space, or "blue oceans". Although finding these opportunities is certainly easier said than done, the book offers a comprehensive outline of the practices other companies have followed to create their own blue oceans.
6.24.2013
Focus on your customers instead of your products

5.20.2013
B2B + B2C = B2P
It is often assumed that B2B and B2C businesses must approach marketing very differently and utilize completely different strategies. While B2B marketing extols the benefits provided to a company and B2C is aimed at the individual consumer, when it comes down to it, you are still marketing to a person.
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