When it comes to marketing many people are not clear about what exactly it is and encompasses. It is often used interchangeably with the word “advertising”, which is incorrect. Simply put, Marketing encompasses certain type of activities that ultimately make people aware of a product or service to result in a variety of end goals, such as increased sales or brand loyalty. The best way to think about marketing is to think of a pie. In its totality, a pie is typically a large round dessert, but when it’s time for it to be served, it’s cut up into several slices.
Some of marketing’s “slices” include:
- Advertising
- Social Media
- Promotions
- Email Marketing
- Blogging
- Events
- Partnerships
- Sales
- Public Relations
- Brand Management
When it comes to your own marketing pie, you may have a couple of slices or several slices, but it is important to cut your marketing pie into the most effective slices.
For example, if you have a bakery, having brand awareness and brand loyalty are probably integral to being successful. Therefore some of the most effective tools may be social media (so you can speak directly to your customers and get feedback), email marketing (so you can share updates and promotions with targeted lists), and strategic partnerships (to ensure you keep growing your potential customer base by leveraging your partner’s network).
So, now it’s time for you to figure out how your marketing pie will be divided. Start by thinking about your audience and who you are trying to reach (your target market). Next think about the best way to reach them (ex. are they active on social media? Are they newspaper readers?, etc.) Then look at your competitors and industry, and see what tactics appear to be the most effective in terms of increasing customers and sales. Once you analyze these three main areas, you will be able to decide what core marketing activities will make up the slices of your marketing pie.
For more tips or if you would like to see how Sunny Day Marketing can help you, contact us here.
