Why it’s important to have a strong marketing strategy

If you’re starting a business, you might not think you have time to create a marketing plan, but it’s as essential as your business plan to ensure you stay ahead of your competitors. This guide looks at what to include and how it can boost your performance.
What’s in a marketing strategy?

Thinking about how you’ll market your business is not just about selling products, but about having a strategy to grow your business and reach your goals. It creates brand awareness, ensuring customers consider you above others.

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The Federation of Small Businesses says that if you don’t have a marketing plan, you won’t be able to measure if your marketing is effective. This means that you could miss out on ways to grow the business.

Every business is unique, but there are common elements in all marketing plans. These include a budget, an analysis of your competitors and goal setting. It should be clear what you offer, what problem you are solving for customers and what your USP is. This will ensure it is easy for potential customers to be aware of you.

If budget allows, you may wish to use professional marketing strategy consultants such as www.reallyhelpfulmarketing.co.uk/specialist-services/marketing-strategy-consultant who have the expertise to help you get it right.

Who’s your audience?

Do your research to create a buyer persona to understand who it is you’re trying to reach. Questions to think about include what is being talked about in the industry, what questions your customers most often ask and what they find frustrating.

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Stand out from the crowd

You’ll also need to look at your competitors and how they market their products. It’s a good idea to carry out a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.