Summer is here and half of the year is almost over. So it’s time to evaluate your 2017 marketing plan and it’s effectiveness and to compare it to your goals. While I do an entire class or consulting session on the subject to help small businesses thrive, here are 8 tips to get you started on evaluating your current plan.
- Compare your sales or donations to date with the goals you set back in January. Are you up? Are you down? The economy is good so you should be up, unless there are other variables keeping you from achieving those goals. Stop now and fix them.
- Follow-up. What is your plan to reach your target market 7-14 times in 6-8 weeks. Write it down and evaluate how you are doing. If a monthly Email or ad is part of your marketing mix, what is the rest? Digital ads, direct mail, social media? Create a chart on how often your prospects & past customers see your brand & offers.
- Go digital. If you are not online with up to 50% of your budget, you are not in company with the most thriving businesses in the country. Consumers search, research and purchase online these days, even when it comes to picking their non-profit donations. Add digital to your media mix.
- Review your top clients, customers and donors and figure out what they have in common. You need their reviews and their support, so remember to Thank them and see if you are meeting their needs. Consider a survey or a personal check-in.
- Determine if your target market has changed over time or if you are seeing any new opportunities that can help you grow with a new market. Reach out to a new market or set up new strategic alliances.
- Add contacts and make sure you have their email addresses. All digital advertising works best when you can connect with your target through social media and online ads in addition to your regular Email marketing program.
- Join one of my workshops to Grow your Business Faster and learn more tips on how you can meet your growth plan in the second half of the year. If you are not growing, you are falling behind.
- Schedule a 6 month marketing check-in with me and let’s review your particular business needs and explore your marketing plan for more potential. Email liz@adteamLA,com today.
Liz Harsch is a media planner and trainer for small business owners with Constant Contact, SCORE, SBDC, SBA, Cities and MWD and County outreach partners, APICS plus many Chambers of Commerce since 2008. She owns Tailor-Made Advertising in Torrance, California and provides marketing, training and consulting to identify marketing and media alternatives for business owners. She can be reached at 310-791-6300 or by email at liz@adteamla.com. You can also join her training at http://adteamla.com/facebook.
