Marketing your company is a significant part of finding success in business. You will need to get the company name in front of customers in order to build brand recognition and educate consumers about what you can do for them. Marketing strategies usually include some types of advertising, public relations and market research, factors that are crafted into a campaign for getting your products or services sold. Still, all companies have to start somewhere in the marketing process, so check out this timeline for how the process should progress.
Start With Basics
It is helpful to have an eye on marketing potential before you even create your business. You should think about what types of names will resonate with customers and still indicate what it is you offer. While you are pondering possibilities, you should do an online search for any strong candidates to see if they already exist as a business name. Once you’ve arrived at a solid business name, you will need to register it with the Secretary of State’s office for the state you are living in. This is required and allows the public to know to whom a business name is registered and where that person lives.
It’s likely you might also need to file for a trademark or service mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This is only necessary for certain types of products and services. Additionally, you should find out if you will need to copyright your slogan, advertising message or product packaging.
Look at Competitors
Next, you should be taking a look at other businesses who are already selling what you want to sell. Even if they don’t have identical products, they could still compete for the same set of customers you want to target. Take a look at competitors’ websites to see how they are handling their messages, customer interaction and branding. Think about what you can tell customers about how you are the superior choice when compared to the other providers out there. It’s vital that you figure out what your unique feature is so that you can set your company apart.
Do the Research
Once you know about your own business and your competition, you can start looking for the customers you want to target with your marketing campaign. Who are your ideal clients? What is their age, their income level, their location and their gender? When you’ve narrowed that list, figure out what type of communication practices are best for reaching them specifically. It might be email newsletters, coupons via snail mail or tweets with special offers. If you know who you want to sell to, you can learn what methods they will respond to.
Plan Your Efforts
Finally, you can start sharing your marketing messages. Spend your time and efforts on reaching the right audience, not just anyone. Remember that consumers have to see your company name at least seven times before it will stick in their memories, so be diligent about sharing the message as often and using as many feasible platforms as possible. Your website will be a primary communications tool, but you should also look to social media, online videos and email marketing as part of your efforts. You likely will have to devote some staff time and money to the marketing campaign, but it can pay off in the long run. Plus, be sure to keep tabs on the progress so you can see what’s working and what needs to be changed.
Marketing is a vital step for companies seeking long-term success. You’ll need knowledge about your company, your customers and your competition before putting your plan in action. Take the time to lay the foundation and make sure all your bases are covered so you can get the start you need.
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