Creating systems are essential to building your business so that you will achieve the greatest return on your marketing investment. For many entrepreneurs marketing feels like a foreign subject that they just can’t seem to grasp. The basic formula for marketing your business involves determining who you’re talking to (your ideal client) and what it is you want to tell them (your message) in a way that makes them want to respond (your call to action). Of course, in order to be effective in marketing your business, you need a written marketing plan and strategies that you follow, test and measure. In addition, you need systems to follow along the way. The easiest way to tackle your marketing on a consistent basis is to create systems for everything you do. Not only does having systems save you time but in the long it will also save you money. After all, time is money. So let’s look at 4 easy steps to systemize your marketing.
1. Create a Marketing Calendar. It’s a lot easier to follow a plan when you have everything mapped out by day, week, month and even the quarter or year if you’re that advanced. If you know that you want to introduce a new product or service on a particular date, you should be marketing that specific item several weeks before your launch. Each marketing tactic should get ample time on your calendar for implementation and best results.
2. Review Past Success. The best way to determine what will work in the future is to look at what has worked well in the past. What projects, programs or offers have you done in the past that generated results that you can build upon? Create a list of the best benefits of the successful item you previously completed and then add ways that you can improve it or build upon it. It’s easier to duplicate or tweak previous success than it is to always create something from scratch.
3. Create Templates. Have a template for everything you do from sending out letters, creating brochures, writing blog articles and even social media posts. All of these marketing activities can be have their own template. Do you have a sample letter you use to introduce new clients to a particular program? If so, create a template for the letter so that you can plug and play for each new client. Do you have a format for writing articles or blogs? Most articles begin with and introductory paragraph, list several points and then end with a conclusion and call to action. Create a template or sample outline and get it done a lot quicker.
4. Automate often. Many people spend time doing marketing activities over and over again rather than creating automated sequences that do the job for them. Is there a way that you can automate your marketing activities to save you time and effort? Of course there is. The key is to figure out which activities are best to automate and which are not. For example, you can automate social media posts, newsletters and emails. You can even automate invoices for on line sales. Figure out ways that you can cut your time in half on certain tasks by implementing automation.
There are so many ways you can systemize your marketing for optimal results. However, you must implement the best techniques for your business type. I recommend that my clients have a written marketing plan so that they operate strategically rather than by the seat of their pants. The key is to stop reinventing the wheel every time you want to market your business. Marketing is like the wheels on your car, your business won’t go anywhere without it. Creating systems to market your business will make your life a lot easier and your business run a lot smoother. Remember creating systems is pointless unless you use them. Implementation is key!
Your assignment: Write a list of 3 different ways you can implement marketing systems in your business for better results in the next 90 days.
P.S. If you need help, creating a marketing plan for your business or want to how I help my client get results, check out the Trailblazer Business Academy.
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This article is written by Lori A. Manns. Want to use this article for your website, blog or newsletter? No problem. Here’s what you must include: Lori A. Manns, CEO of Quality Media Consultant Group your marketing and sales success mentor, and founder of Marketing For Trailblazers™ & ABC’s of Successful Sponsorship Sales System;™ that shows you how to get more sponsors and sales for your business, guaranteed. To purchase consulting services on marketing, advertising or sales and, learn how to increase your revenue and grow your business; please visit www.qualitymediaconsultants.com.