Efficient advertising is key to any business thriving in the competitive environment of the world today. Companies allocate a sizable chunk of their operational funds to advertising in a bid to gain customers who improve their bottom line. Marketing experts will admit that not all advertising efforts translate to extra dollars in the bank, but here are a few guidelines to improve your advertising campaigns.
1. Identify your goals.
The first step in any advertising campaign is to understand what your goals are. Meet with the marketing and sales team to determine your aims by discussing what is lacking in a product or what the market demands. Remember, you cannot solve all your marketing problems with a single campaign. Wade through the list of possible achievements you want and narrow it down to the most plausible goals. Trying to achieve too much with a single campaign is overwhelming, and may dilute the intended message. Instead, define your brand and target a particular customer segment as opposed to targeting a mass audience.
2. Strive to deliver.
Marketing campaigns are not meant to please the head of the marketing department. They are a means of communicating with your existing customers and potential clients who will come onboard after seeing the ad. Therefore, you need to design your campaign in a fashion that meets and exceeds customer expectation and solidifies your brand’s place in their budget. Wowing your customers will bolster the chance of word-of-mouth advertising among their circle of friends. How can you achieve this? Allocate a sound budget that accords you the services of a reputable ad agency then sit back and savor the results.
3. Be consistent.
Companies need to maintain a familiar look and feel of their products to resonate with existing and potential customers. Changing your color schemes and name of business each time you launch an ad campaign is likely to confuse your clients and most may not recognize the campaign. Avoid the temptation to jump on the latest hype because drastic and regular changes will do more harm than good. You want your customers to associate the ads with you so that your product is at the tip of their tongues when they are in the market to buy. Consistency in branding goes a long way in customer retention which is why big brands continue to dominate the marketplace for generations.
4. Use great visuals.
The essence of a successful marketing campaign lies in the ability to convey the message in the simplest manner without confusion or doubt. As the needs of the modern consumer evolve, there are countless distractions in media channels used to reach them. Make your ad memorable by incorporating graphics that complement the audio or written message. For online marketing you can try Infographic marketing as well and it’s not that hard to find great Infographic ideas in any type of business. For instance, a marketing campaign for baby monitors could feature a mother juggling household chores while her infant cries in the nursery. This scenario borrows from real life experiences of parents who mind children while simultaneously tackling duties such as laundry and cooking.
5. Test your ads.
When planning an ad campaign, it is paramount that you field different ideas from the team and prepare ads for each idea. Then invite a group of your target audience and present these ads to get their opinion on which relays the idea in the best way. Typically ad testing will require the services of a professional firm although you can opt to recruit the respondents independently. To avoid biased opinions, use a focus group studio with a separate viewing room so you can observe the group’s reactions as the ads play out. Administer a questionnaire where respondents will rate different aspects of the campaign on a five-point scale. Analyze the results and then monitor the preferred ad upon launching.
6. Include contact information.
Regardless of the media channel you use to run your ad campaign, be sure to include your contact information. Otherwise you lose to your competitors who are constantly on the prowl for new clients. Traditionally, a phone number and physical address of the company and perhaps an email address would suffice, but social media is radicalizing the manner in which businesses conduct their affairs by offering great return on investment. If you fall behind the social media wave, it is time to open corporate accounts in the common platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. An active online presence helps you keep up with the latest market trends that interest your target customers.
Conclusion
Take time to develop a marketing campaign and a great social media strategy that meets the desired goals and keep your clients’ needs front and center. Having the edge over the sea of competitors will win you customer loyalty.
Featured photo credit: creativeart via freepik.com
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