Whether you’re just starting a business or trying to grow an existing one, marketing is a necessary part of doing business. It can help you reach new customers and keep your old ones happy, but it’s not always easy. So why is it that so many businesses go wrong with their marketing? Here are six common mistakes that we see again and again:
You aren’t reaching the right people.
Your marketing strategy isn’t working because you’re not reaching the right people. You need to know who your target audience is, where they hang out online, how to reach them and how to engage with them.
For example: if you’re selling paper products—like napkins or paper towels—then your target audience might be mothers or homeowners who are looking for ways to cut back on expenses and make their lives easier. If that’s true then you should think about creative ways of reaching these people online, think of groups and communities, but also in physical spaces where mothers and homeowners might congregate like grocery stores.
You’re promoting your brand, not your values.
You’re promoting your brand, not your values.
Our first instinct is to promote what we’re doing and why our product/service is superior, but that’s not going to connect with anyone. People don’t care about what you do; they care about who you are, and what you can do for them and ultimately they only buy from people they trust.
Values are the things that matter most to us as human beings: honesty, integrity, respect for others, generosity of spirit… These qualities distinguish us as individuals and organizations—and when these values are at the heart of what you offer through your marketing strategy and content creation efforts, customers will notice and pay attention.
You’re being too salesy.
It’s important to avoid being too salesy. This is a big one, so let’s break down what it means to be too salesy:
- Don’t use words like “buy,” “purchase,” and “invest.” Instead of saying something like, “Buy now before the price goes up,” try using some language that doesn’t make it seem like you’re trying to sell them anything at all. For example: “Check out this deal!” or “This product has an amazing discount!”
- Avoid aggressive language or pressure tactics. Don’t use phrases such as “Act now before the offer expires!” or “Only three left in stock!” These tactics can come off as pushy and make people feel uncomfortable about your brand—and if they feel uncomfortable with your brand, they won’t buy from you.
- Don’t focus solely on features and benefits when describing your services/products; instead try explaining how these things will impact them directly (for example: “You’ll save money by switching over to our service.”)
Nobody likes a greasy salesperson, so avoid using language and tactics that would give you the “ick” if you were on the other side of the message.
Your message isn’t clear.
Clear – Make sure your message is clear. If a potential customer doesn’t understand or remember what you’re selling, they won’t buy it. Check if what you’re saying makes sense in context: does it fit into the broader narrative? Does anything contradict earlier statements? Do these ideas support each other? If not, why not? Maybe some adjustments need to be made!
Consistent – Ensure that your message is consistent across all media and channels. Inconsistency can cause confusion, which leads people to question the quality of your products or services—or make them think twice before buying something from you.
Relevant – Ensure that your message is relevant to the target audience at any given time in their life cycle, whether they’re just starting out or have been with you for years—and keep track of how those interests change over time so that you can adjust accordingly!
You’re not open to advice.
As a business owner, you are likely to know how to do your job and know your product better than anyone else. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from others. You should be open to advice and feedback from others.
You may think that you are the best in your field, but there is always room for improvement. If someone offers advice or feedback about something you’ve done, consider taking it into consideration before deciding whether or not it’s useful information.
Your customers will often give valuable insights when it comes down to how they view your brand or product as well as what could make improvements for future marketing campaigns if asked about them directly instead of just assuming this information based on their actions.
Your brand isn’t well-defined.
Your brand is the sum of all your company’s experiences. Your website, marketing materials and social media posts are all part of it. And so are the people who work for you — both internally and externally. It’s also important to keep in mind that your customers’ experiences with your brand extend beyond what you can control: their friends’ opinions and reviews online are an integral part of how they perceive your company.
So, what makes up a strong brand? Your mission statement should set out a clear vision for where you want to go, while also defining why customers should choose you over competitors. In addition, try to be as specific as possible about how exactly this will benefit them — focus on what makes yourself different from other providers in the market and why that matters.
When it comes to marketing, some mistakes are worse than others!
When it comes to marketing, some mistakes are worse than others. Some mistakes can be fixed more easily than others. Some mistakes are more costly than others.
Mistakes fall on a spectrum of embarrassment, with major blunders at one end and minor slip-ups at the other. You may not realize it, but this is an important distinction when it comes to your online presence and visibility as a brand or business. In fact, your choice will affect everything from whether people feel comfortable sharing your content with friends to whether they actively avoid doing so.
These are just a few of the mistakes you should avoid when promoting your brand. While it can be tough to get everything right, it’s important to keep working on your marketing strategy and try new things until you find something that works for you.
Remember: those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it!
We get it, running your business and finding time for marketing isn’t always easy. If you would like some help with your marketing, reach out. We help businesses win the marketing game everyday and would love to the same for you. Crunch Fource ~ Marketing & Design for Every Budget!
If you would like to keep slugging through on your own, check out our Content Hub! You will find tons of valuable resources to help you up your marketing game!