How to Market a Product? 18 Tips
Regardless of what product you sell, it will get to a point where you need to up your marketing game to stay relevant. The first step would be to evaluate how people are finding out about your product and capitalizing on it. Tony Guo(http://www.linkedin.com/in/tyguo/) has prepared a comprehensive list of tips that he thinks you should use.
1. Have a Marketing Plan
Nothing good happens without planning for it. Just as a fine movie goes through an intensive production process, planning is essential for marketing success. A plan allows you to know how far you have progressed in the marketing campaign and what other steps you need to take.
2. Use Automated Emailing
Using emails for marketing is one of the most effective ways to get people to see your product. It is still one of the most effective methods of getting customers to buy your products. Most consumers will open an email and read it even when they know it is an advertisement.
3. Use Numerous Social Media Platforms
Social media is always tough to use especially for small companies. The reason for this is that there are so many platforms that it is hard to know which one will work. Start out with all of them and then narrow down your campaign to the ones that are effective.
4. Personalize your Marketing
If you are trying to sell products to someone, it is important to have a face to the product. People’s trust in a product tends to fade when they cannot put a face to the ad. Consider using one or two people who will act as the face of the company.
5. Come Up With Original Content for the Campaign
Most people use ideas and content that have been used in the past for their marketing campaigns. However, it is not effective since it does not capture the attention of your target audience. Challenge the people marketing your product to come up with creative content.
6. Entice the Customers
If you are trying to market something, there is a good chance that someone else can offer them the same product. Entice them with offers such as great prices or something similar. However, avoid enticing them at the expense of your profitability.
7. Keep in touch
You have to keep in touch with customers that have already converted. For instance, offer them coupons if they shop with you through their email. However, avoid contacting them too often, or you may seem spammy, and they could block you.
8. Use Business Cards
Even in the internet age, business cards are still quite important. Ask other small businesses if you can leave your cards in their lobby. However, you must ensure that your cards are designed beautifully and that they contain your most relevant contact information.
9. Connect With Your Local Community
At times, it is good to be part of local associations of business that offer similar products. In some instances, they may get more inflow than they can handle. In such a case, you would benefit from referrals to your business.
10. Get in the News
Sometimes, even sprucing up your business’ sign could get you in the news depending on how small your community is. You may also have to donate to a local charity for you to get your product in the news. The news is a great way for you to get free advertising.
11. Add Value to Your Products
Sometimes, all you need to get your product to sell is to offer great value. Instead of trying to compete solely on price, find out what more you can do so that customers will prefer your product to others.
12. Update Your Customer Profile
One of the reasons why your marketing campaign may not get off the ground is that the person you are marketing to no longer exists. Always do research to ensure that you have the ideal characteristics of a person to whom you market to.
13. Market on the Streets
Sometimes, some old school techniques such as writing with chalk on the sidewalk can be quite effective. You can also hand out flyers at your local restaurants to raise awareness about your product.
14. Use Controversy
Controversy is one of the best ways to raise awareness about your product. However, you have to be careful about controversy. It is tantamount to playing with fire and it could burn you if you are not careful.
15. Use Scarcity
Scarcity is a great way to get customers interested in your product. If customers feel that they will miss a product, they are motivated to buy it. However, you have to be careful about being too scarce lest they lose interest.
16. Create a Sense of Exclusivity
Customers are usually more motivated to buy a product if they feel like they are part of an inner circle of buyers.
17. Use an Affiliate Program
If you are finding it hard to get customers to see your product, you may consider launching an affiliate program. It is a form of marketing where you get others to do the heavy lifting for you.
18. Blog
Blogging is a great way to share information related to your field. You can then use that as an opportunity to subtly market yourself to your potential customers.