What exactly is marketing? People often ask and it’s a good question that doesn’t really have a simple answer. I like to think of it as getting your customers, or potential customers, to do what you want them to do; like buy your product, use your service, or promote your business. In a sense, there is a bit of a psychology behind it.
How do you get people to behave a certain way?
How do you get your target market to notice you, to give you a try, to tell their friends and family about your business?
Figuring all this out is the fun part for me! But understanding how and why people think and act the way they do isn’t always easy.
Marketing is defined by Dictionary.com as “the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.”
Today there are many different types of marketing and here are just a few.
Traditional marketing – billboards, flyers, TV ads, radio spots
Digital marketing – search engines (Google), social media, email, websites & more
Outbound marketing – cold calling, email blasts to purchased lists, print ads
Inbound marketing – attracting customers to your business by creating valuable content
Search engine marketing – strategies used to make sure your business get found in search results (getting found on Google)
Content marketing – creating, publishing and distributing content such as blogs, videos, eBooks, webinars
Social media marketing – promoting business & engaging with customers on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram
Video marketing – creating videos for your website, emails, YouTube or social media
Email marketing – using email campaigns for brand awareness, drive traffic to other channels, promote products or services
Influencer marketing – using social media influencers to promote or endorse your brand
Word-Of-Mouth marketing – creating shareable content, referral and loyalty programs, using reviews & testimonials
Event marketing – trade shows, workshops, seminars, conferences
So how do you know where to start and what to do? This can be overwhelming for many businesses, especially small businesses. Check back next when we answer this question in more depth!
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