Knowing how to market your business is one of the most important parts of building any business.

Here 10 tips for creating a cost-effective business marketing plan.

1. Know Yourself

Selling is about trust, and those with the best, most trustworthy stories win over customers. Businesses need to clearly articulate the reasons potential buyers should do business with them.

You must define who you are and live your brand!

2. Know Your Stuff

Confused consumers don’t buy, so businesses need to clarify the reasons why consumers would want to buy from them. Listening to the needs of the consumer is critical.  Be knowledgeable about how your service or product can fill those needs, and you can discover how you can be helpful and connect with customers.

Know your product / service inside and out so you can focus on adapting to the needs of your customer.

3. Don’t Go to Market Without a Plan

• Know your markets
• Select a target audience. You can’t be all things to all people.
• Do a thorough analysis of competitors.
• Understand the challenges and opportunities within your market.
• Communicate your objectives.
• Have a clear and compelling story.
• Become the go-to source for local media.
• Develop a realistic marketing  budget (about 2% to 5% of sales).
• Write a timeline for implementing the plan and decide who is responsible for implementation.
• Develop metrics for success. ( Many metrics aren’t easily measured.  It doesn’t mean they aren’t important )

4. Develop a Compelling Message

A successful message is one that is unique, meaningful, and credible; that addresses consumers’ emotions and intellect; and that decisively sells a company’s demonstrated results.

This is the time to be direct and promote the benefits to your customer.  Testimonials are a great way to support a compelling message.

5. If You’ve Got the Knowledge and Experience Share It

Let consumers know about your training and certifications.  Customers what to know they are doing business with a pro.  Take the opportunity and let consumers know that you know your stuff.

6. Fish Where the Fish Are

Be where your customers are.  Know who they are and where they hang out.  From local networks, to international social networking, know your audience and what they value.

7. Choose the Tactics That are Right for Your Audience

Must-have items in a successful marketing plan:

• Necessities: uniform logo, tag line, letterhead, business cards, signage, presentation materials, an attractive Web site and involvement in social media.

• Recommended: referrals and a public relations program, press releases about your company.

Blogging, Facebook and Twitter are wonderful way to connect with customers.

8. Get Quality Marketing Support

Hire a pro to help you develop your company’s marketing plan, strategies and tactics.

9. Speak the Truth

Trust is so important in today’s business world.  Tell the truth, be consistent and be in your integrity all the time.  It’s important to believe in what you do, you spend most of your life doing it.  You deserve be true to yourself and everything you do.

10. Raise the Tide

Help your industry grow.  Be helpful and supportive within your industry.  When consumers understand the benefits of your industry everyone benefits.  You can chose to be a leader that shares with your industry.  Sharing your knowledge and stories can grow your entire market.
Do you have any additional marketing strategies you would like to share?  Add your voice to our comments.