MARKETING
[ mahr-ki-ting ]
noun
Growing up, we didn't have much. When we needed or wanted something, I knew it would only happen with hard work and earning it. I was 10 years old when it all began. Paper routes, curb painting, mowing lawns, whatever needed to be done I would do it. To keep my businesses going there was one thing I quickly realized I needed - marketing. Similar to business now, I needed to market myself and spread the word about myself, brand myself, and think about the long game, not the short play.
Since then, I've collected over 25 years of experience, tools, and information in marketing and how to use the right data to get real results. This is the information I want to pass along to you.
When marketing, it's important to know (and keep top of mind) that the data will always inform the strategy.
This means you MUST know WHO.
Data is the foundation of all successful marketing. However, “Data” is a vague umbrella term, making it difficult to know exactly how it can help your business. What kind of “Data” are we talking about? We are talking about all the Data the fuels successful marketing campaigns!
Such as: Audience Data, Location-Based Data, Mailing List Data, Digital Audience, and more!
Raw Data is great (and essential) but it doesn't do much good unless you learn from it! Applying Insight to Data gives you valuable information that creates effective Marketing Campaigns. Insight is an often overlooked step in the Marketing Process that can be the difference between you and your competition.
Such as: Advanced Look-A-Like or Audience Insight Reports
Not every marketing channel is effective for every business, so we work hard to provide you with a custom solution that will fit your business! We execute detailed strategies to help you reach your ideal customer: at the right time, in the right place, with the right message.
Such as: Digital Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Direct Mail and more!
If you do any marketing without setting a goal first, how can you possibly have enough data to know if it was successful or not?
Please don't shoot in the dark when marketing. There is no shame in looking at what your competition is doing! In-fact, model after it!
This may seem obvious, but you would really be surprised how many businesses think they know their audience, but really don't.
Blog posts, ebooks, PDFs, memes, infographics, social posts, youtube videos, TikToks, and more! Your content should stand out from the rest.
Building relationships with your contacts is the first step and the sole purpose of marketing. You can't make a sale if you don't talk to a person.
Listen - I mean really listen to how the public views your company and your brand. You never know when someone is listening that has a problem you can solve.
More targeted and personalized advertisements are a lot more effective than the general approach of the common "pray and spray." This is only possible when you're able to segment your audience.
The best part of marketing. Testing different messages, creatives, across different platforms. It's so much fun! You should get into a regular habit of A/B testing everything.
Measure how different elements perform against each other. Not even just the design elements, but test audiences as well. No point in serving ads to an audience that isn't responding. Am I right?
Always look for ways to separate yourself from the competition. Being able to create and implement unique marketing ideas will help your business rise to the top and stand out.
Simply put, I started First Direct because when I was working with another company, I experienced businesses of all sizes being prescribed cookie-cutter solutions that just "sounded good," and didn't yield results. I got sick of it - to be completely transparent. So I opened the doors to First Direct, where I would only provide "Marketing Solutions That Fit" the actual needs of my customers. Businesses are all different so their marketing should be as well.
There are over 25 years of experience, information, tools and more that I've added to my toolbox that I want to share with you, too!
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