In tough economic times, history tells us that many organizations will consider “streamlining” their marketing budgets before cutting back anywhere else. Let’s see…we need more people to hear about our business, so let’s stop talking about it? Don’t make that mistake!
On the contrary, if you need to increase sales you need to increase your marketing reach. And that’s not just the Marketer in me talking – if you’re keeping tabs on the current business climate, you’ve undoubtedly seen this sentiment echoed in many recent articles. (For a good summary of the topic, you may be interested in this column from Robert Kiyosaki, of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame, in Entrepreneur magazine.) In fact, during tough times, less savvy competitors may decide to trim their marketing budgets, which leaves you with a great opportunity to increase market share.
And increasing your marketing reach doesn’t always mean increasing your marketing budget. You can almost always find ways to improve results, simply by re-thinking your strategies – and there are a number of ways that Silverline Creative can help. Consider the following ways to extend your marketing reach:
- Leverage Your Online Presence
If you don’t have a website – build one. It’s a cost-effective way to promote your business and it works for you 24/7.If you have a web site, take a step back from it and give it a fresh, comprehensive review. Is the content still consistent with your company’s message and goals? Does the design project a desirable image and convey your company’s vision for the future? Does your site address your users’ needs? Can usability be enhanced? Can you offer something to site visitors that will push them to take that next step?Silverline launched a re-designed site and email campaign for The Great Urban Race in December 2008, and their monthly registrations quadrupled year-over-year. What would that type of increase mean for your business?
- Go Electronic
If you regularly use printed newsletters or brochures to communicate with clients, prospects, vendors – or even your own internal staff – consider going electronic. When you eliminate the costs of printing, postage and fulfillment, both small and large mailing lists can benefit from the change. And electronic communications can be updated more easily and more frequently, without the expense and waste of re-printing. You’ll be saving money and reducing your impact on the environment.Silverline recently worked with the City of Naperville to translate their Popular Annual Financial Report into a Flash-based online presentation – part of the city’s increasing efforts to reduce costs and “go green.”
- Hire a Professional – Outsourcing is your Friend!
We’re not trying to get fellow designers or marketers fired, but if you don’t already have in-house design and marketing capabilities, it doesn’t mean you have to settle for pre-fab templates or do-it-yourself graphics. Hire a professional to make your company look professional and maximize the impact of your message – otherwise you could be wasting money on mediocre marketing. A polished image and consistency among your marketing communications goes a long way towards making a favorable and more memorable impression with new prospects and existing clients. And outsourcing your design and development will save you the costs of hiring, payroll, employment taxes, healthcare, and more.Silverline excels in all forms of web-based marketing, as well as the design of printed communications and corporate identity assets for small- to medium-sized businesses. We can put together a budget that meets all of your goals in these areas, and typically for far less than it would cost to hire one full-time employee.
Whatever your plans, Silverline Creative would love to help. Let us know how we can help you succeed in the coming year – that’s our business!
Steve Lovisa
President
Silverline Creative
Tags: Email Marketing, Marketing, Outsource Web Design, Website Re-design