Just Starting Out? Market Within Your Budget

We’ve all heard the riddle:  If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around….does it make a sound?  Think of that riddle in the marketing world.  It’s like having a high-quality billboard promoting your business placed in the desert.  Nobody will see your efforts or know that you exist.  As a business owner, you know you need to market your business, especially if you’ve just very recently opened your doors. It’s the only way you can attract customers to your brand!

Unfortunately, budgets are typically tight.  Small business owners rarely have the large budget needed to compete with the ‘big dogs.’  Without a sizeable wad of cash, marketing becomes extremely difficult.

But it isn’t impossible!

Start with the basics and go from there.  (and don’t spend your money on a billboard in the desert!)

Create the Very Best Logo You Possibly Can

Creating a logo will cost a little bit of money upfront, but it’s an investment that will pay for itself in a relatively short period of time.  We wouldn’t recommend trying your hand at design with this important part of your brand.

Research and hire a company with a portfolio that speaks to you.  And what’s great is, once you pay for the logo – it is yours.  You own it and can use it however you see fit!

It is important to note that your logo should incorporate the color scheme of your business.  You want people to take notice of your logo, but don’t make it too artsy.  You want a simple design that speaks to your business and can be easily reproduced on promotional and collateral pieces.

Start a Blog

There are many reasons to start a blog.  And don’t worry, if you’re not a good writer, there are many freelancers and businesses, like SK Consulting that can help.  Here are some benefits:

• Attracting an audience
• Building rapport with customers
• Establishing authority in your industry

Blogging can get expensive so shop around to find the best writer for the right price.  You can try your hand at blogging, but make sure you have a second and third pair of eyes to edit your work and incorporate SEO and key phrases.

One great thing about starting a blog is the fact that you can fund it later on down the road when there’s more cash to go around. All you have to do is look for a content writer to join your team when the time is right.

Get on Social Media

Social media is one of the easiest ways to do a little marketing without spending any money. It’s free to start a business account on platforms that include Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

There are two approaches you can take. If you have the time, you can join as many social media platforms as you can to attract people to your brand, or you can choose just one or two to spend your time on. No matter which method you choose, make sure that have time to update your accounts often.

Also, make sure there’s a strategy behind your posts.  After all, social media is more than pretty pictures and sales pitches.  You need to be educational, relevant and authentic! Testimonials and videos are sure-fire ways to grab attention of potential customers.

Do Some Guerilla Marketing

Guerilla marketing is a fun way to get your brand noticed! Here are some low-cost ideas:

• Network, network, network – there are many free networking groups that you can join and share your business and business card with others
• Use creative, inexpensive signs to point to your store (think sidewalk chalk or sandwich board signs)
• Give away free samples at an event – find events that align with your business and show up with free samples
• Use inexpensive promotional items to share your logo and website

You don’t have to have thousands of dollars burning a hole in your pocket to do a little marketing! You can get your business noticed by new customers and clients without spending money you don’t have. Need help establishing your marketing goals within your budget?  Contact the experts at SK Consulting today!  From concept to creation to implementation – we’re there with you every step of the way!

Attention Non-Profits! Your Board Should Be Marketing’s Best Friend!

Marketing your non-profit can be challenging.  With limited resources, a competitive landscape and a top priority on fundraising – marketing your organization’s story effectively can, at times, seem impossible.  But, think outside of the proverbial box.  Look at new ways to get people engaged and build awareness. 

While there are many different ways to market and advertise your organization – try using something you already have.  Get your board involved!

Your board of directors know a lot about your organization, have a solid stake in its future success, and likely already have a passion for the mission and purpose you serve. Who better to help spread the word? Who better to help build your audience and engage others?

Get them active in your marketing initiative and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results!  How?

Innovative Ways To Get Your Board Engaged

Social Media Shares. Invite your board members to actively share information about your organization on their own social media networks. Create events such as volunteer days, agency tours, etc. and ask your board members to invite those in their online networks. Share content — including articles, pictures, and updates — about your agency online and ask your directors to share as well.

Introduce the Executive Director. Having the board introduce the ED to influential friends, business owners and other connections could help fill agency needs.  Don’t always think just in terms of fundraising, but in sharing the message, or potentially recruiting volunteers and future board members.

Volunteer at fund-raising or friend-raising events. Your board of directors can do more than just help plan or attend an event. Give them a specific role — reaching out to and introducing attendees, and sharing more information about the organization and how people can get involved. However, not every board member will be comfortable with this role.

Sign thank-you cards or place thank-you phone calls to donors. The more you can get your board involved in fundraising-related tasks — and especially more involved with donors — the better the success. A one-on-one connection between a donor and board member can reinforce the mission and passion both individuals have for the organization. Nonprofit marketing isn’t just about getting the word out to new people, but also about continuing to strengthen existing relationships.

Share their why.  Each board member can write a brief personal testimony for the website or other materials describing why they are committed to the agency.  What inspires your board members will likely inspire others. These stories can be a powerful to share your mission and purpose and build awareness of your organization.

Donate a unique auction item. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who has resources. Ask if they have a vacation home, an interesting trip, or special experience to donate. You may be able to identify items that your attendees would really enjoy, and potentially couldn’t find elsewhere. This will help create buzz around your auction and/or event and help raise awareness and donations.

Initiate Corporate Partnership opportunities. Depending on the business they work for, there may be opportunities for joint efforts with nonprofit marketing and/or building awareness. Perhaps their company could sponsor a volunteer day, mention your organization at a large corporate event, or even become a corporate donor.

Invite friends on agency tour or to a special event. Experiencing your organization — and especially the results — will go a long way towards getting someone new involved. Telling someone what you’re doing is good, but showing them leaves a much more lasting impression. At the end of the visit, ask the individual for their input and feedback. Find out if there is a way to get them involved — perhaps as a volunteer at an upcoming event, or helping out once at your agency. Many donors and strong supporters begin their relationship with an agency as a volunteer.

Host Success Celebrations. Using their home or social club, plan a small gathering of staff, volunteers, and friends, to celebrate a recent accomplishment. It could be a milestone you’ve hit in terms of donations, or the launch of a new initiative or service. Clarify that the primary purpose is to congratulate your team on their efforts - not to acquire donations. Your board members will be more comfortable inviting new people to the event if they know the goal is to share success, not solicit donations.

Ask for new ideas. Ahead of your next meeting send an email out to your board and tell them you will be discussing possible new ways to build awareness. Have them come up with their own ideas and bring these to your next meeting. Discuss them as a group and get feedback from others. If your board is involved in the creation and delivery of a new initiative they will work harder to make sure it’s a success.

While donations and fundraising may be the life-blood of your organization, building awareness is critical for creating the relationships you need to make this happen. Your board of directors may be some of the most passionate individuals in your agency — in addition to your staff and volunteers. Arm them with the story and trust them enough to engage others.  After all, your board can and should be your best brand and marketing ambassadors!

Need help engaging your board?  Contact the experts at SK Consulting.  We have decades of experience working with non-profit organizations, their staff, their board and their constituents.  We’d be honored to help!

What’s In a Name: Developing Your Business Moniker

It is no secret that the small business and entrepreneur landscape is growing.  That leads to a lot more competition and an increasing number of choices for consumers.  So, if you are starting a new business it’s important to get it right the first time.  The first step?  Solidifying your company/organization name.

What's in a name? A lot, when it comes to small-business success. The right name can make your company the talk of the town. The wrong one can doom it to obscurity and failure. Ideally, your name should convey the expertise, value and uniqueness of the product or service you provide.

Some prefer to be abstract, a blank slate upon which to create an image.  Others choose to be informative.  Some decide on coined names or made up words and others choose to be straightforward (i.e. SK Consulting).  No matter what your personal choice is –your name and logo need to attract your target audience (not you).

In reality, any name can be effective if it's backed by the appropriate marketing strategy. But, there are things to consider in order to give your small business the most appropriate and effective name.

Enlist Expert Help to Start

Coming up with a good business name can be a complicated process. Consider consulting an expert, especially if you're in a field in which your company name may influence the success of your business. An expert can advise you against bad name choices and explain why others are good.

You may be surprised (as were we) to learn that there are professional naming firms that charge as much as $80,000 to develop a business name and concept (gulp!).  Sure, spending a reasonable amount of money early for quality, expert advice can save you money in the long run…but make sure you don’t go bankrupt on the way to success!  At SK Consulting, we can help for mere peanuts on those dollars!

What's in a Name?

Start by deciding what you want your name to communicate. It should reinforce the key elements of your business. Your work in developing a niche and a mission statement will help you pinpoint the elements you want to emphasize in your name.

The more your name communicates to consumers about your business, the less effort you need to explain it. When choosing a business name keep the following tips in mind:

• Choose a name that appeals not only to you but also to the kind of customers you are trying to attract.
• Choose a comforting or familiar name that conjures up pleasant memories so customers respond to your business on an emotional level.
• Don't pick a name that is long or confusing.
• Stay away from cute puns that only you understand.
• Check domain names to ensure your business name is included in your website URL

Get Creative

At a time when almost every existing word in the language has been trademarked, the option of coining a name is becoming more popular.

Coined names can be more meaningful than existing words, but they aren’t the right solution for every situation. New words are complex and may create a perception that the product, service or company is complex, which may not be true.

An easier solution is to use new forms or spellings of existing words. Compaq was a name developed by a naming firm after a new company came to them touting its new portable computer.  The agency thought about the word "compact" and came up with Compaq, which they believed would be less generic and more noticeable.

Test Your Name

After you've narrowed the field to four or five names that are memorable and expressive, you are ready to do a trademark search. Not every business name needs to be trademarked, as long as your state government gives you the go-ahead and you aren't infringing on anyone else's trade name. But you should consider hiring a trademark attorney or at least a trademark search firm before to make sure your new name doesn't infringe on another business's trademark.

Final Analysis

If you're lucky, you'll end up with three to five names that pass all your tests. Now, how do you make your final decision? Recall all your initial criteria. Which name best fits your objectives? Which name most accurately describes the company you have in mind?

Some entrepreneurs arrive at a final decision by going with their gut or by doing consumer research or testing with focus groups to see how the names are perceived. Read each name aloud, paying attention to the way it sounds if you foresee radio advertising or telemarketing in your future.

Keep in mind that professional naming firms devote anywhere from six weeks to six months to the naming process. (We understand that not everyone has that time luxury and we can work with you to get you up and running within a couple weeks).

Once your decision is made, start building your enthusiasm for the new name immediately. It’s time for logo development, website design and promotion, social media outreach – the list goes on.  Bottom line?  Make sure you have a marketing plan in place.  After all, you’ve invested so much time (and some money) in getting your business together and your name solidified.  Support your name and your mission with a strong strategy to get you noticed and successful!

Need help developing a business name and brand?  Contact the experts at SK Consulting.  From Concept.  To Creation.  To Implementation.  We’re there with you every step of the way!

Yours, Mine, Ours – The Collaboration Between Marketing and Development

In the majority of businesses or organizations, different departments have different goals, different priorities and different ways of reaching them.  Unfortunately, many times, departments are like silos – where communication and collaboration is lacking.  Working like that sets each of those departments and the organization, as a whole, up for failure.

Why not work together?  It could be lack of resources, lack of direction, lack of understanding that each department has more in common than people think. Take nonprofit marketing and development departments.  It may seem like they don’t have much in common or that they are in competition.  

After all, Marketing and Communications are all about the message, while Development is all about the money, right?

This overwhelming urge to separate the two departments is not only bound to cause miscommunication in the office, but it can prevent nonprofits from reaching their audiences effectively and efficiently.

The Departments that Work Together…

While smaller operations may have a lot of crossover between staff handling marketing and communications and those fundraising, there should be an understanding of how entwined the departments should be.

Marketing, Development and Programs need to work together.  Think of them like a tri-pod, without the full support of one of the departments, the whole thing falls down. 

Really, it’s a cycle. Development Departments raise funds that support the nonprofit’s programs. The programs provide success stories, impact, and statistics to show progress and the Marketing and Communications Department takes these stories and results and uses them to promote the organization. Marketing reaches out to the public, attracting new donors and fundraisers for Development to prospect. Etc.

Give and Take

Smart nonprofits know that when Marketing and Development work together, both departments benefit. So, here’s how these different sections of the organization can help each other out.

Have a Unified Plan

The organization as a whole should have a strategic plan and each department has its role in carrying that plan out.  Each department should have a plan as well, but they should work alongside the other departments’ plan.  It just makes sense.

For example, if Development wants to hold a pop-up, fundraising dinner how are they going to market it?  They need to work alongside Marketing to develop the best messaging and avenues to spread the word.    If people don’t know the organization or its events exist or the STORY, development will have a hard time making the ‘sale’.

Share Your Goals

The whole point of this collaboration is for both sides to achieve their goals more efficiently.  To do that, you need to be on the same page. Both departments need to know about fundraising goals, major PR opportunities, and brand awareness. Pay special attention to the areas where your goals overlap so you can work together.

Find a Common Voice

If Marketing is trying to emphasize fun and hope while Development is appealing to address an urgent need, your audience will notice the discord. Development must be privy to and have input in the overarching communications strategy to ensure donors and other supporters receive a consistent message from the organization.  Basically, the left hand needs to know what the right hand is doing and why.

Share Stories and Real Estate

Both Marketing and Development need impact stories to reach their audience and achieve their goals. This is an obvious point for collaboration. Furthermore, Development can provide exciting news for marketing when they have a successful fundraising campaign or forge a new partnership.

The Marketing Department can also give Development the exposure it needs to reach new donors, perhaps by offering some room on the organization’s homepage. While Marketing may want to devote most of its collateral to impact and powerful images, Development knows that acknowledging donors is extremely important. Think of your website and social media as something to build and grow together, not property to be divided.

Marketing and Development Departments are forever entwined. They depend on each other for success, but they will find success faster if they collaborate and support each other.

Marketing and Development must get along.

To make sure you are always on the same page, try to get both departments together once a month. That way you can plan to support and promote each other, especially when an event or initiative is on the horizon.

Need help developing a strategic plan that benefits Marketing AND Development?  Contact SK Consulting.  From Concept. To Creation. To Implementation.  We’re there with you every step of the way!

Sales vs. Marketing: Which One to Use?

When people use the word marketing to describe sales, it’s enough to make any true marketing professional’s blood boil.  While sales and marketing are used interchangeably way too often, there IS a distinct difference.  So, don’t ask whether you should focus on sales or marketing…because the answer is both.

Think of marketing as a machine and sales as one important cog to keep that machine running.  You see, marketing and sales are two different things that are – or should be – part of a company’s business strategy.  Sales is quite straight forward. It involves actually selling the company’s products or service to its customers. Marketing is the process of communicating the value of a product or service to customers, so that the product or service sells.

Marketing has a much larger scope than sales.  It is about how a company places itself in the market and in the eyes of its customers and potential customers. It also incorporates what products the company sells. In short, marketing ensures that sales take place; that a sales team is armed with the tools needed to promote and highlight services and products; that the customers are confident enough to buy from the company. Hence, it can be said that sales is a PART of marketing.

A successful marketing plan has a lot of moving components.  But, to truly be effective, marketing requires the 4 Ps - Product, Price, Place and Promotion. Marketing is the first and the broadest step to make sales effective.  Once the mix is in place, sales can take off!

The 4 Ps of Marketing

Product – the product is either a tangible good or an intangible service that seems to meet a specific customer need or demand. All products follow a logical product life cycle and it is vital to understand and plan for the various stages and their unique challenges. It is important to recognize those problems that the product is attempting to solve. The benefits offered by the product and all its features need to be understood and the unique selling proposition of the product need to be studied. In addition, the target audience for this product needs to be identified and understood.

Price – the price is the actual amount the end user is expected to pay for a product. How a product is priced will directly affect how it sells. What is the perceived value of the product to the customer?  If a product is priced higher or lower than its perceived value, then it will not sell. So, it’s important to understand how a customer sees what you are selling. If there is a positive customer value, then a product may be successfully priced higher than its “monetary value”. But, if a product has little value in the eyes of the consumer, then it may need to be underpriced to sell. Price may also be affected by how competitors price a rival product.

Promotion - marketing communication strategies and techniques all fall under promotion.  From advertising to sales promotions to special offers and public relations.   Whatever the channel used, it is necessary for it to be suitable for the product, the price and the end user it is being marketed to. What the difference between marketing and promotion? Promotion, like sales is one cog in the marketing machine.  It is the communication aspect of the marketing function.

Place – Also referred to as placement, this deals with how the product will be provided to the customer. Distribution is a key element of placement. The placement strategy will help assess what channel is the most suited to a product. Is it primarily on-line, in-stores, virtual, etc.?  How is it being promoted and where?  Social media?  Traditional media?  Determining your true target audience and their habits is key to getting the place or placement right.  Place can also include where in the store or in the community is this product or service located?  Top shelf?  Bottom shelf? Check-out lane?  Drawing the right customer to the right place at the right time is important!

What else is Marketing?

The essential goal of marketing is to increase the desirability and value of the product and of the company to the customer.  Beyond sales, there are so many things that go into effective marketing, like:

Consumer research - to identify the needs of the customers.

Product development - which aims to design a product to meet those needs.

Advertising -  to raise awareness, build the brand and to generate interest in the product.

All of the above, if done right, should naturally lead to a position where sales can happen.

Summary

Marketing is the reason a person goes to a particular store or place.  Sales is the reason that a person buys a product or service from that particular store or place.  For example, a retail store gets you there through marketing.  The associate sells you a particular product within that store.

Still not sure where marketing ends and sales begins?  Good, because it is a fluid process wherein all cogs need to work together.  When that happens, so does success!

"Old-School" Branding Techniques Still Have a Place In Today’s Market

Everything is so fast-paced these days: You go to bed thinking you’ve mastered the world of technology and wake up to a brand new invention – the ‘latest craze’ in communication or business development. 

If you think it’s hard for you to keep up with change – think of it from a company’s standpoint.  They have to keep up and stay relevant, they have to adapt their branding, marketing and sales efforts at the same or faster pace than new technology emerges.

The show Mad Men encapsulated the old-school way of advertising – designing billboards and magazine ads relevant to those times.  These jobs still get done, just in a different way and with different tools.  Today, instant publishing is all the rage. Despite the changes that the marketing industry has experienced, some old-school branding and marketing strategies just as effective today as they were decades ago.   

The following are a few branding and marketing strategies that are just as valuable today as yesteryear:

Business cards. Business cards are less common now that texts and apps and email are so prevalent, but they’re still effective. Business cards visually represent you and your brand -- they have your logo and contact information, which should stand out in your prospect’s mind. When designing your business card, make it one that people will remember so that when a prospect needs your type of services, he or she will think of you first.

Snail mail. We all love getting personal mail.  Most of the time, our trips to the mailbox result in bills or advertising disguised as letters.  You don’t have to trick consumers into opening your mail in order to have a successful snail mail campaign. Although impersonal ads are disappointing, coupons and discount notifications are not. There are many card companies that can help you become more personal and relevant to your potential and current customers.

Public Speaking. Speaking at events is a great way to get your company’s name out to people already interested in your industry. Search out events related to your field or let connections know that you are available to speak; then prepare an address that is educational and meaningful and will make a lasting impression.

Think about the last time you attended an event about something you were interested in. Did any of the speakers stand out to you? Why?

Publishing testimonials.  At SK Consulting, we preach the need for testimonials. Customers turn to online reviews and testimonials all the time before making purchasing decisions or deciding which service provider they want to use.

Asking existing clients for testimonials and then publishing their words on your website and printed marketing materials helps establish trust.  Don’t forget to ask your customers to write a review on Facebook and Google – provide them the direct link to where their words can be published.

Sponsorships for community events. Whether a local high school football team or a charity walk to raise cancer awareness, an event that gets you involved in your community – and noticed -  will raise awareness of your company and the things you do. It makes for great PR as well because it shows that you and/or your company care about the community and are dedicated to giving back.

Cold calls. The term “cold calls” has a negative connotation because rejection is tough and some people just aren’t cut out for sales. Assigning one of those people to cold calling won’t result in much success. But, others do their best work when making cold calls.

With cold calls, you need a plan in place that includes a list of potential customers and a ‘non-scripted’ script. Once you feel confident in your pitch, call the prospects on the list. Don’t be afraid to digress a little bit or indulge in a personal conversation.

A branding redesign. If your brand has been around a while, it may be time for a redesign.  Although this can be a difficult undertaking, redesigning your brand, logo and the overall look of your company can get you a lot of attention. This is especially true if your branding is outdated. Old customers will enjoy a fresh new look while potential customers will get curious and pay more attention because, let’s face it, sometimes we do judge books by their covers.

Trade shows.  Whether you attend trade shows in your local area or travel to national and even global events, participating in and presenting at trade shows is a great way to increase brand recognition. Not only can you get your name out there, but you can show potential partners and customers your products, what they do and what else you have been working on.

The above strategies may not be the newest ways to brand and market your business.  But, they have been tried, tested and proven true. If you need help incorporating traditional strategies into your forward-thinking marketing plan, contact the experts at SK Consulting today!

Attention Associations – What’s Your Brand Benefit?

Many times, branding is misunderstood.  Businesses and individuals, alike, use the term interchangeably with marketing or public relations.  But a brand is the identity of a business, organization and helps tell the story and give others an incentive to buy into what you are all about. 

Many business owners and organization leaders don’t put as much thought into it as they probably should.  Take, for instance, associations – member organizations that don’t have a product to sell, but benefits.  Associations need strategic branding more than anything to sell memberships.

Branding is not just about the graphic representation of an association in the form of a logo. The visual representation of a logo as part of a brand becomes more meaningful and valuable if it encapsulates and communicates effectively the association’s core identity: its brand voice, mission, vision, values, goals and brand story.

Too often the foundation of an association marketing strategy, an organization brand, is ignored when developing association marketing strategy and tactics. How do you build an organization’s brand? The temporary victory that comes from developing an association’s marketing strategy without redeveloping or redeploying a brand strategy is anything but traditional.

Branding As Marketing

Your organization’s brand needs to steer your marketing strategy if it’s going to grow market share and increase your association’s preference. Branding an association or an organization means it must blend with the marketing organically.

An association’s brand is dependent on the organization members and prospective members – they help identify passion points and benefits of services offered and services that should be offered. Most association marketing strategies lack this thought process because they have confused their association’s brand with their corporate proposition or product (association) attributes. As a result, the marketing efforts fail.

When branding an association look closely at the aspirations of the prospective members

The reason most marketing strategies fail is not because the organization’s strategy was wrong, rather because internal decision makers are unable to observe the association’s brand dispassionately. To put it into perspective – do you really know how you appear to others? For example, how many bald men think the “comb over” is an effective disguise? People cannot see themselves as others do, and organization marketing departments quickly reinforce this fundamental truth when they step into the “corporate body” — unable to see itself dispassionately.

More often than not, the corporate body reacts in terms of its own needs and wants. Such blindness presents an opportunity for other organizations or associations that are willing to see association brand development as central to its marketing development and not simply as something to be managed.

How Marketing Has Changed

Brand is about persuasion because it is all about the beliefs that drive your target audience. It is not static.  It is a fluid idea that continually changes with the wants and desires of prospective members.  

Branding an association without a concrete marketing strategy as part of its deliverables is like going to the finest restaurants in the world, deciding what you want to eat, and then eating the laminated menu rather than what you ordered.

Surrounding and supporting core identity are the brand components and applications that capture the identity of the association. Brand components, such as the logo, tagline, imagery, colors, shapes, tone of voice, layout, style and font type are ingredients in creating the unique identity of an association’s brand. They include corporate stationery, web site, videos, office environment, brochure, social media, etc. All these are relevant in designing and building a brand.

Again, branding is a process and brands should be nurtured. The design process from research, brand strategy formation to the creative expression of the logo are all essential parts to a brand. To create an effective brand, an organization must incorporate the following components:

• People—the association’s main asset. Whether a volunteer or an employee, they provide time, expertise and contacts.
• Belief—reflects the association’s core values, which drive its people to achieve positive and progressive outcomes.
• Cause—describes the organization’s mission and is a fundamental part of the brand story.
• Stories—represent the many “voices” of the association and its members.
• Advocacy—is about the association’s purpose, which is the core and reason for being.

Finally, brand management is a critical part in nurturing brands and requires the commitment of the organization’s leadership, involvement of the staff and identification of those who will be champions.

How does an association start to brand itself?

• Discover who you really are, what you want to be known for.
• Understand prospects’ pain points.
• Know what solutions you provide.
• Develop and share your story in a clear, consistent manner.

Is branding for associations? A resounding YES! Countries do branding (for tourism, etc.), companies do it, too (to sell their products) as do people (for personal equity).  Why not associations? Associations touch lives, provide benefits and can make a positive difference to an individual or business – so, why WOULDN’T an association invest in branding?