customers Tag

03 Nov

Posted at 10:11h in Integrated Marketing by
Row of five friends using cellular phones smilingToday's consumer is more tech-savvy than ever before. But that doesn't mean they see themselves as programmers or developers. They are more like enlightened users. Smart businesses will recognize this bright line between comfort and expertise when engaging with customers. The burden is on sales and customer service agents to quickly understand what a customer needs and offer viable solutions.

Keep KISS Alive for Your Customers!

While we can't say if your customers are nostalgic for glam rock, we are pretty sure that the old KISS method applies more than ever today. So yes, keep it simple, sir. The definition for simple has changed quite a bit. Many customers today use tools their grandparents couldn't possibly have imagined. But we may have reached a saturation point, particularly for these consumers who have weathered the tech revolution and have had enough. They don't want to "learn" a new site tool or download an app to finish a task. It's time to stop burdening customers. Website designers are particularly sensitive to the concept of responsive design, which is the practice of ensuring a website works on all kinds of platforms and systems. "Web design and responsive design are the same thing," writes web developer John Polacek. We're almost there. Sites that rely heavily on web orders, like FTD.com for example, do themselves and their customers a huge favor by looking the same when viewed on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone--even a nonstandard Windows phone. There's something to be said for keeping the design simple and steady. It's readable, scalable (by dragging), and easy to navigate. The only pop-ups should be for discount offers or a request to download your free app.

Technology Should Not Require More Learning

07 May

Posted at 12:50h in How to Pitch, Integrated Marketing by
People at the conferenceAccording to Aberdeen Research, 84 percent of marketers use some form of social media today. And, the number of businesses that say social channels like Facebook are important to their business has increased by 75 percent. But in a time before the birth of social media, both marketers and businesses were generating leads by passing out business cards and connecting with customers face to face. It's time to get back to the literal reality of organic connecting. Here are four ways to successfully promote your business offline:

Seminars

Seminars are one of the most popular lead generators and they are great for attracting and connecting with customers. Don’t go to a conference or seminar with the assumption that you have to sell yourself and your business to other attendees. Networking at events is all about making connections, not prospecting. Kevin Stirtz, writing for Business Know-How, suggests asking people about their businesses, and says to be friendly and relaxed. Stirtz also advises against giving everyone you meet a business card; instead, he recommends passing out your business cards when others ask or when you make a good connection.

Trade Shows

Setting up a booth at a trade show gives you the opportunity to connect with new customers who are interested in what your business has to offer. Companies like Apple Rubber, a leading designer and manufacturer of sealing devices, have found success by attending trade shows. The company sets up booths at trade shows in cities from coast to coast and lists each show's date and location on their website, merging both offline and digital marketing. Mark Krenn, founder of Coastal Creative Reprographics, writing for Business 2 Community, says that you need to stand out from the crowd. Your business will be alongside other industry competitors, so you’ll have to get creative when connecting with potential customers and designing your booth.

Giveaways

19 Apr

Posted at 15:41h in Digital Marketing by
Where does your audience get their information? One reason to really, truly know your audience is that the answer to this question is "Everywhere!" In the old days, we had print and TV (and only three channels) and signage and it was an easy bet as to where to place your messaging. Today's world contains everything from text messaging to billboards to social media. Chances are your audience is looking at about 7-8 different messaging channels a day. You've heard of many of the popular ones but others like a podcast ad or a GPS-enabled mobile banner may not be as obvious. Knowing your audience means you can identify trends. The younger the audience, the more they tend to change channels regularly. The older audience typically finds something they like and sticks with it.