No matter the size of your business, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to your brand. From your logo and collateral material to your website, social media, and everything in between, the details are enough to make your head spin.
That’s why it’s essential to have a solid, goal-oriented marketing strategy in place. Taking the time to outline your company’s communication goals helps keep all of these components organized. It also serves as a roadmap of where you want to go and how to get there. Whether you’re a new start-up or an established company in need of a refresh, everyone can benefit from these tips to focus on exactly who your business is and what it wants to achieve.
Tips to Create Your Marketing Strategy
1. Define Your Vision
The first step in creating an effective marketing strategy is to clearly define the vision for your brand. What type of tone do you want to use in your messaging? How do you want people to perceive you? Who is your target audience? Why should consumers choose your company over a competitor? These are all questions to consider when outlining your vision. While it can be time-consuming, this process will help your company stay focused and consistent in your marketing efforts.
This rings true for new and established businesses alike. A new business must institute the vision for its brand to properly present itself to the world. Established businesses also need to be mindful of their strategies to stay true to their story. If your growth is stagnant, this may mean it’s time to reinvigorate your marketing strategy to keep up with the times.
2. Be Proactive
Once you’ve clearly defined your vision and outlined your company’s marketing plan, it’s time to get to work. Things like securing your website URL, determining your optimal mediums, building a solid image library, creating fresh content, and establishing your presence on social media are just a few pieces to put into action to help get the ball rolling. Create a list of tasks and assign who needs to complete them. Make sure to provide deadlines to keep your team productive and accountable.
3. Adjust As You Go
Now that you’ve established your plan, put it into motion, and started checking things off your list, you should be set…right? Not the case. Your dedication to the company’s vision and hard work to create a killer marketing strategy is futile if the plan is not constantly in motion. It is vital to remember that marketing is an evolving process and needs a lot of TLC to get the most out of your efforts. Be flexible and open-minded with your strategy. Allow adjustments as needed to keep up with the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of marketing to accomplish your overall goals.
4. Be Patient
Good things come to those who wait (and work). That is the exact case when it comes to successful marketing plans. There are no shortcuts and fast tracks in marketing. This is a long-term strategy that requires commitment to your vision and patience to see it through.
An important thing to remember: you don’t have to do everything at once. At Stray Media Group, we work with customers to build a plan in phases to accommodate timelines and budget. If you don’t have the budget to cover everything you want to accomplish right away, let us help you determine what you need to do now to begin growing your business.
Not sure where to start? If you’re a DIY type, an excellent resource to check out is the “Start With Why” book and TED Talk video by Simon Sinek. More of a leave-it-to-the-experts type? Contact us for advice and assistance in creating a killer marketing strategy!
