Creative meets Innovative
5 Reasons Why: Your Marketing Fails
6 Jan 2012 | No Comments | posted by Coldfire Promotions | in Blog Post, Miscellaneous
Marketing is hard. Not just because it’s an incredibly complex topic that involves tons of strategy and planning, but it’s especially hard for small businesses. Most small businesses, especially in this economy, do not have the financial resources or the man power to really integrate creative, innovative and effective marketing. Fortunately, I’ve narrowed down a handful of reasons where your marketing is probably falling short, along with some helpful tips for improving those areas.
1. Your website is working against you.
Let’s face it. Everyone knows in this day of age you need a website for your business to thrive (also see: “survive”). The good news is there are many, many tools and avenues for creating a website. Furthermore, domain registration and website hosting is incredibly inexpensive these days. In fact, you can easily spend less than $100 a year for both! Chances are, however, if you designed your own website or used some sort of template builder, your website is doing more to hurt your business than help it.
Think about it: when you have a plumbing issue, who do you call? A plumber, of course. What about car troubles? Call the mechanic! And your taxes? Yea, right! Time to get a hold of your CPA. It’s no different when it comes to website design and development. Don’t risk driving your customers to your competitor just because the first impression they got of you was your website… hire a professional!
More Helpful Tips: 5 Reasons Why You Need a Graphic Designer
2. You’re nowhere to be found.
- A website with quality Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Google Places
- Google+
- YouTube
- Flickr
- RSS Feeds
- Yelp
- And the list goes on…
How many of these tools are you utilizing as part of your marketing strategy? 2? 3? That’s not enough. Especially if the only ones you are on consist of negative reviews on Yelp and a Facebook page with 7 fans… Get some help and take control of your brand before the evil internet monsters (your customers) do!
3. Lack of innovation.
This is where time, creativity and technology play a big role. Creating an innovative marketing strategy isn’t always the easiest thing to do. It takes a lot of time and brainstorming and can be cumbersome for business owners to try and keep up with the latest trends in technology. Social media, mobile marketing, online coupons, a quality (and useful) website and e-mail marketing are just some of the areas in which your marketing is lacking innovation. These are all rather fresh forms of marketing and, unfortunately, many small business owners are stuck in their old ways and are losing out big time to those who actually keep up with the times. Don’t end up like Kodak and get left behind!
4. You take the easy way out.
For example: shotgun advertising. It never really works. Sure, it might be a simplistic approach to advertising your business and it might seem to be working, but chances are you’re spending a lot more money per conversion than you would be if you actually sat down and developed a strategy. Whether it’s time, money, manpower or a lack of creativity, marketing roadblocks come from every which direction for small businesses. Don’t ever settle for anything but the best. You simply cannot afford to.
5. Failing to put yourself in your customer’s shoes.
One of the most difficult things for any small business owner is putting yourself in the shoes of your customer. Whether its sales, marketing, PR or nearly any other business function, you have to understand that a) your customers are most important, and b) your customer is always right. All too often I see business owners so close to their work that it becomes near impossible for them to detach themself from their company and look at it from a third person perspective (or that of the customer). I’m guilty of it, you’re guilty of it… we all do it. Fortunately there are hundreds of thousands of marketing professionals readily available to help you out. We just prefer that you hire us!
More Fails?
Are there areas of your marketing that need help? Did we miss something? Share your comments below and subscribe to our e-mail newsletter for more help!
New Version of Google Analytics
23 Nov 2011 | No Comments | posted by Coldfire Promotions | in Blog Post, Miscellaneous
In case you have not yet heard, the wonderful, amazing, useful and last but not least… free tool every website needs is being updated! The “Google Analytics Team” sent out an e-mail the other day to all Google Analytics users that they will be introducing a new and improved version (v5) of Google Analytics soon. The features to be introduced in the update include: Google Analytics Real-Time Reporting, Multi-Channel Funnels, Mobile Reporting, Flow Visualization, and even Automated Report E-mail Scheduler. Let’s take a brief look at each of these features and how our Google Analytics experience can be improved as marketers and business owners. Read more..
“Scrappin’ for a Cause” Campaign
23 Aug 2011 | No Comments | posted by Coldfire Promotions | in Blog Post, Miscellaneous, Portfolio, Print Ad Campaigns, Product Spotlight, Projects
In cooperation with K/E Electric Supply, Coldfire Promotions launched a massive, 2-month effort to raise $20,000+ for the Michigan Breast Cancer Coalition in August, 2011.
The object of the campaign was to get the customers, vendors, and employees of K/E Electric all involved. Donations were not only accepted via cash or check, but, as the name implies, the collection of scrap wire was the biggest part of the donation proceeds. K/E placed a “scrap wire bin” at each of their four locations in the Metro Detroit Area, as well as a life-size standup cutout of their General Manager, John White. Why the standup, you ask? K/E (and John) promised to shave his head if the goal of $20,000 was met. Not only that, but if $25,000 was raised, he promised to shave his 40 year-old mustache, too! He hasn’t seen his upper lip since 1971! Read more..
How to Increase Your Website Traffic: A Case Study
31 May 2011 | No Comments | posted by Coldfire Promotions | in Blog Post, Miscellaneous, Slider
In March of 2011 Wind Surf & Sail Pools, Inc. decided to make the move and finally bring their website up to Web 2.0 standards. Their old site consisted of a table-based layout including small images that were not enlargeable, extra-small text, and very little user utility. While it was going to be a challenge, Coldfire Promotions LLC was eager to help. Read more..
“Menu” of Services
1 Feb 2011 | No Comments | posted by Coldfire Promotions | in Blog Post, Slider
Coldfire Promotions is proud to announce our new “menu” of services! If you see something your business deserves, give it a click! As always, make sure you give our fast and easy quote request form a try once you’re ready to move forward with your ideas! Dig in! Read more..
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