I spent this past weekend trying to uproot parts of a tree that had worked its way into my back lawn. The root system was pretty extensive and after a couple of hours I still wasn’t done. Removing unwanted roots isn’t an easy task!
Since 2009, the economy has been very tough on small business owners. Unfortunately, many owners didn’t survive and have gone out of business. Those that have managed to survive are still struggling to attain pre-2009 sales targets.
What do marketing systems and trees have in common? First of all, like an old tree, it’s tough to replace an old marketing system. A marketing system matures over time and is deeply rooted in your business. For example, if you happen to be following a reputation marketing strategy with the assistance of a reliable online reputation management agency, you need to ask yourself if it is producing enough green for your business? Has it adapted to the realities of today’s business environment? If yes, you can continue with the same system and maybe diversify in the future. However, if it’s not, then it may be time to rethink your marketing strategies.
But before getting too caught up in marketing systems we must come back to the basics of your business and your marketing strategy. Who is your ideal prospect? How do you differentiate your products and services from them? How do you educate them on why they should choose you? These are important questions that must be answered before implementing a new marketing system.
Perhaps you are still using a marketing system that worked well before 2009 but isn’t as effective today. Significant advancements in technology with the emergence of Web 2.0, social media, and smartphones have dramatically impacted consumer behavior. Consumers just don’t shop and buy the way they used to.
Your marketing system must support your strategy and be effective in a new environment. More potential customers research and shop online than ever before primarily using smartphones and tablets. If potential customers can’t find your products and services online then they basically have no opportunity to buy and will choose a competitor who is online.
They are also looking for reviews and social proof before making a buying decision. And online businesses are targeting this need by looking for the best site to buy Instagram likes in order to boost influencer posts reviewing their products. Online businesses are also encouraging their online customers to review their site with services like Trustpilot to help secure the authenticity of their business.
It’s impossible to compete when people don’t know you exist. You need a total online presence to complete your marketing. For instance, if you have a plumbing business, then it is prudent for you to have a website in order for people to know that you exist. Without a website, it would be impossible for people to learn about your company and the services you provide. That said, if you still do not have a website, then you can create one by getting inspiration from the likes of Portmoni (which can provide you with the examples of 20 Best Plumbing Websites).
Anyway, coming back to the topic, it’s easy to get overwhelmed but building a new marketing system takes time and patience. You can’t do everything at once and adapting your existing systems may not be easy as the data systems these days have become too complex. However, by incorporating good IT software that can streamline your operations, as well as the cloud storage and security needs, this could be made easy. To get this done in a proper manner, you can take a look at splunk solutions or similar other software according to your business needs. That said, it’s not a question of “if” but of “when” will you get your systems in place.
The question is often asked “when is the best time to plant a tree?” and the answer is usually 20-25 years ago. For implementing a new marketing system 2009 would have been a good time.
“When is the 2nd best time?” That would be now!