Marketing Mistakes Checklist and some Examples
Many entrepreneurs make basic marketing mistakes either because they don't know about these mistakes, or they don't have an effective system to avoid them.
This article is about the simple, basic mistakes you must avoid in order to make consistent profits with your business.
1. Failing to Master the Primary Function of Your Business
It amazes me how many businesses don't master their core business. By this I mean, if you own a grocery store in town, do you have the basic items and brand names your customer buys on a daily basis… in stock all the time?
You should, as your customers rely on you to have these items in stock when they need them. And if you don't, they'll shop somewhere else.
Now think about your business. Do you have a system in place for you business, which allows you to master the primary functions in your business so your customers are happy in their dealings with you?
You don't need to master marketing or become a business guru. Simply set up a solid system and master your core business, so your customers get what they wanted from you in the first place.
2. Not Specializing and Targeting a Specific Market
Small business owners seem to 'forget' who their customers really are and don't realize they need to specialize. Seeing they don't have a huge advertising budget, almost all small businesses need to specialize.
This allows them to compete with a small advertising budget.
Decide what you what to specialize in and decide which customers you want to go after. And then simply go after your target market every day.
3. Failing to set up a Database of Prospects and Clients
You may think this is obvious, but I still come across many entrepreneurs who are too lazy to set up a database of prospects and clients. If you have a brick and mortar business, you too can easily do it too.
Simply collect the email addresses of every prospect and customer you meet and add them to an autoresponder program such as aweber.com.
Then build a relationship with them by sending them valuable content and offers you can sell to them.
4. Not Systematically Following Up on Leads
Make sure you keep in contact with your existing prospects and customers at least twice a month. I notice many small business owners 'forgetting' this step too. If you don't keep building a relationship with your prospects and customers, they'll forget about you and buy elsewhere!
Remember they've already purchased from you and trust you. Selling additional products to them is easier than find and selling to new prospects.
5. Failing to improve the Usability and Conversion of Your Website
How many visitors on you blog or website are you converting to subscribers or customers? How easy is it for your visitors to understand what to do on your site?
To improve the usability of your website, make sure all links are blue and underlined, for example. Web visitors are used to seeing blue links.
You can also increase the size of your "Buy" or "Subscribe"buttons. It almost always increases conversions. Also make sure you eliminate all distractions which will stop your visitors from buying or subscribing on your site, especially on the order pages.
Distractions could mean links to other sites or any unnecessary things which distract your visitors from buying or subscribing on your site. This also increases conversions.
So study your websites and blogs, and make sure it's clear what your visitors must do on your site. Also investigate how you can increase the conversion rates so you can turn more visitors into buyers.
Do you have any additional marketing mistakes we should watch out for?
I wish I had this list about two years ago before I started my own company. It took a lot of hard thinking to find out all these points are valuable.
Theos last blog post..Browser Statistieken van 2008
Yes, it these are some great points that should never be taken lightly or forgotten
Bali Villass last blog post..Villa Puri Indah
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http://financeideas4u.blogspot.com
Finance Ideas 4us last blog post..During this recession you can go for the online money making business.
interesting tips, I found much useful information on your blog.
Greetings
marus last blog post..Las Niñas y el Maquillaje
You bring up a very good point that I always read everywhere I read. That is to build a list or the money is in the list. This is my next step for my website but I find it hard to find some compelling and useful info via e-mail.
Hi,
I have seen your post regarding marketing mistake & i want to tell you one thing that it is just awesome.
Keep rocking. All the best from my end.
Kenneth From Finance Ideas 4us last blog post..During this recession you can go for the online money making business.
When a newcomer to promoting a web business or starting a work at home business online begins this venture what are the most common mistakes they make? This would include any business that involves internet marketing but especially the work from home income opportunity type.
Great article, I have it bookmarked for it will come in handy in the future!
very interesting, I already save the post, and I will take into account, I am new in all this, and I find this info very useful
Newcomers to their own business make the biggest mistakes by:
- Failing to do direct-response marketing (getting an immediate response via their marketing from a prospective client)
- Failing to learn and understand the basics of marketing
- Not continually being present in front of their prospects and customers with marketing campaigns
- Trying to find new customers all the time and neglecting present customers
- Failing to keep track of what marketing works and what doesn't… and doing a lot of what works!
This Article is very good. The badest thing is that small Companys allways wanna have and sell everything like the big ones do it. But when you have something special and give a good support for that then you will get customers and have a good name.
These are the most common Marketing Mistakes that we used to do in routeen life:
1. Lack of Research and Testing
2. Improper Focus and Positioning
3. Marketing without a USP
4. Failing to Capture Repeat Customers
5. Lack of Focus on Potential Customer's Needs
So Guys any idea how to avoid them
Very important steps are listed here. Most people make the mistake of wanting to "serve all". The best way to start any business is by starting off small, and working your way up. Start out very niche, add more niches, and continue to build to the theme of your business. You will make more money if you target a specific group, rather than a general group.
Also, if you sell a product, and you want to increase your conversions, focus on the landing page. If you really want to improve conversions, consider limiting navigation only to relevant links. Unless you run a huge store and you are already well known, there is no need for a "home" link, if you are trying to sell a specific product on a product page.
Riggie, No doubt, these are very common and we should learn something before start. Why you are not writing any further posts on the blog? I think you have efficient enough traffic to teach them some mew stuff.
Please write more.
I think Google can definately help with the conversion aspect, as the Analytics allows you to set up A/B testing to find out what works best for defined goals in conversions. That's what's helped me the most..
Yes, you must test your website.
I do a fair amount of website split testing. I can tell you to not forget this step. Most all websites, give their first shot at producing a sales converting website. It takes testing to find the right graphics, sales copy, price point, guarantee, etc. I found the best software is "Split Test Accelerator" to give your website a tune-up.
Hi Riggie,
I am new into this business and I admit that I'm not good in marketing. It's really great reading your article, it helps me at least not to do the same mistake like others did but I'm not sure if I am able to execute my marketing plan well. By the way, what is USP? hope to get answers from you guys.
thanks,
Kevin
web hosting, I think your #4 point is the most valid point. I think it is the most difficult task to capture all customers and to urge them to visit blogs/sites again to read or purchase some stuff.
Thanks mate for the tips. I'm new at this stuff as well. Do you use any additional tools to make post to social media? Like autosubmitters?