Marketing for business growth

Marketing with a goal of business growth is not something unknown. However, many companies go about it the wrong way, and as a result, fail to ever see any real success from their marketing tactics. It is rarely one strategy or tactic that leads to business growth, rather a series of things that lead to growth. Here are some tips for marketing in a way that promotes your business growth, helps your reputation, and allows you to build a loyal customer base.

Organize around customers rather than products- The first thing you have to do is make sure your marketing plan is focused on the consumer, and filling their wants and needs, rather than pushing a product on them. While you clearly want your product to sell, it is better if you form relationships with your consumers first, and sell later. This leads to more loyal customers, and a better long term plan for your business. Thus, get involved, start conversations, and make sure that you are doing what you can to get feedback and respond to the feedback you get. In other words, focus on continually meeting your customer's needs, and improving their experience.

Improve communication between teams- A huge part of marketing success, and allowing your business to not just spike in profits from time to time, but actually grow as a result of your marketing is to improve the communication you have between the various channels or departments and teams you have in your company. Your customer service needs to be aware of what your marketing is doing, and your HR does too. In other words, as you improve the communication between departments you improve the customer experience because everyone is in the know, and customers don't get shuffled around while you look for the right person to address their needs.

Create a thriving culture that respects customers and employees- If you really want business growth you have to get your whole staff on board, and willing to make the sacrifices and do the work etc. it takes to grow as a business, and there is no better way to do this than create a thriving culture that makes everyone want to be apart of your vision. You do this through respect, incentives, and involvement of everyone.

Measure marketing- You can't do it right if you do not know what is working and what is not. If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to set up metrics, and take the time to measure your marketing tactics. You can do this a variety of ways, but often after the initial purchase of the tracking software, etc. it is a simple process.

Use social media to build customer relationships- Your customers matter more than anything, so use the available social media channels to connect with your customers, get feedback from them, and find out what they need and want so that you can accommodate them.

Write a marketing plan- It should be a plan that is open to adaptation and changes, but having a plan in place makes for more likely success.