The 1,2,3's (and 4) of Marketing

There are so many different ways to reach your prospects. How do you decide where to spend your money? Here is my 1,2,3 (and 4) that I give anyone I consult with.

1. Brand Identity. Whether you are a start-up or an established business, take a look at your brand and make sure it is expressing itself. Your brand needs to be visual, appealing, expressive, and captivating. If it is not, hire a professional to make sure it is. There is a lot of competition in the marketplace against your business, so you should ensure that your identity stands out.

2. Get good quality marketing collateral. Start with business cards and then move into your other items. Make sure all of these are professionally designed and printed professionally. Nothing is worse than an unattractive, flimsy business card. For most small businesses, this will be the first impression you have. Make it memorable.

3. Web presence. You must have it. It does not have to be elaborate. You can always build onto your website as you grow, but you must have something online for people to land on because they will be searching you. Also, after they meet you, they will want to see how legitimate your business is.

4. Advertise. Where do you start? My prescription for most businesses is to find the most reputable print publication that is specific to your industry and place the largest size ad within your budget. Make sure you have this ad professionally designed. Not every business will benefit from print advertising, but most will. Industries such as retail, hospitality and service will always benefit from reaching the end-user through a reputable, well-distributed, print source.

Contact the Farmhouse to learn more and to see what we can do to promote your business.

Welcome to the Farmhouse, Food Service Connection!

Food Service Connection became the latest member of the Farmhouse! www.MemphisFoodChain.com is their website designed by the Farmhouse. These guys are a one-stop-shop for every operator of a restaurant or hospitality business in the Memphis area.

Food Service Connection was also branded and named by the Farmhouse. They look great!

How to Advertise Effectively.

Nowadays, there are SPAM filters, there is TIVO, there are pop-up blockers. For every style of advertising companies create, people create something to keep it from getting to them. People don't like being marketed to. So how do you reach someone who obviously does not want to be marketed to? Your advertising must be engaging. It must be artistic, interesting, thought-provoking, and concise. Your potential customer will look at your ad for one-second before deciding whether or not to read more about your product or service.

Farmhouse Marketing is great at creating striking ads that convey a message quickly and entertainingly. Call us to discuss what we can do for your company.

The Six Types of Advertising

When trying to determine how and where to market your business, you should consider which avenues to advertise your business. There are six:

1. Broadcast Advertising (TV and Radio)
2. Print Advertising (Publications, Magazines, and Newspapers)
3. Outdoor/Display Advertising (Billboards, Park Benches, Posters)
4. Direct Mail
5. Email Marketing
6. Internet Banner Advertisements

Each avenue has different benefits and different costs, and determining which is best for your business can be tricky.

Budget is the first thing that should be considered. If you can't afford it, don't do it. But getting the most ROI on your advertising dollars is what matters most. ANd remember, advertising is not a necessary evil. It is just downright NECESSARY. You have expended all of your sweat and energy for your product or service, the only thing left is to tell the world about it. Getting your company's name out there is the only thing you have left standing between your product or service and a transaction.

Reasons to Advertise in Tough Economic Times

"A man who stops advertising to save money is like a man
who stops a clock to save time." -- Henry Ford

When times are tough and revenue isn’t as easy to come by, it seems like the first inclination of most companies is to cut the marketing budget. But successful business owners will tell you, this is the exact opposite from what you should do. Here are the reasons.

1.) You’re open! Let people know that even in tough economic climates you are still open for business. You have to tell people or they won’t know.
2.)Mindshare/Opportunity Stay in your customer’s minds. You should advertise because your competitors are.
3.) Fish where the fish are. Target your customers and advertise where they will see you. Focus your advertising when money is short.
4.)Credibility If your marketing budget is smaller than it normally is, advertise in the best quality publications you can afford. Even a business card size ad will give your company credibility.
5.)Bravado “Never let them see you sweat”. Be confident and portray success because people like winners.
6.)Convert wants into needs. Look at the auto industry. Who ever knew we needed satellite radio, DVD players and heated seats in our cars! What about your products or services could you make necessary for your customers?
7.)Plant the seed. Stay in front of your potential customers and they will buy when they can. If you disappear, they will forget about you by the time they are ready to purchase.

It is not practical or affordable for most small businesses to retain full-time marketing, advertising and public relations staff. Hiring professionals to create and execute your campaigns or to design materials a-la-carte can be very cost-effective. Outsourcing alleviates the pressures associated with employees and can be written off on your tax return, all adding up to a huge return on investment for your business.

Farmer's Market Open for Business

Check this blog for news and info for marketing your company and other insights into business promotion.