A common question that business owners find themselves asking is why their marketing is not seeing the success that they had hoped for. There are many reasons that this could be the case, and the key to fixing the issue is always going to be to find the root. Once you know what’s causing your problems, you can get to work on a solution. However, finding the problem can often become a problem itself!
Down below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that could be causing your marketing to plummet rather than soar. So, if you’re interested in learning more, keep reading.
You’re Not Checking With Focus Groups
The first thing that we want to mention is the fact that you’re not checking in with focus groups when you want to launch some new materials. Of course, you do not have to do this with every single marketing material that you want to put out, but doing so with any big campaigns is going to be necessary.
Some people don’t like focus groups because they tell you what you’re doing wrong as well as what you are doing right, but this is exactly the information that you need. You’re never going to get very far if you don’t know what isn’t working, and therefore can’t fix it. Surely it’s better to get this information before you put the campaign out there so that you can adjust it and not face any problems with it? Those who don’t think so – that’s your problem. At the end of the day it’s not about what you like and what appeals to you, it’s about your target audience.
You Don’t Use A Marketing Agency
Another problem that you could be encountering is the fact that you are not using a marketing agency. While not all businesses need them, if your business is struggling in this area, then you definitely do. It’s not a criticism, but it’s a way to help yourself see better results. Getting the benefit of professionals who have been through this before, know what they are doing, and can generally help lead your business in the right direction is essential for your business, and avoiding it isn’t helping anyone.
There are plenty of marketing agencies out there, so we’re sure that you can find one that you like the look of. Look into their prices, speak to representatives from the agencies, and see who you think would be the best fit for you. You do not have to go with the first agency you speak to, but you do need their help if you are struggling.
You Aren’t Tracking Your Results
Do you track your marketing? Do you look at what marketing method has brought in the largest number of new clients? Are you checking to see which methods are bringing you the highest quality leads? Do you regularly check to see which of your materials are not performing the way that you had hoped so that you can adapt them or scrap them altogether? It’s things like this that you need to be doing, as it will give you the information that you need to improve your marketing overall. It’s not hard to do and it doesn’t take long at all to do, it just takes a keen eye and some concentration.
You Don’t Make The Most Of Being Different
When it comes to marketing, sometimes you have got to think outside of the box and be different if you have any hope of making a name for yourself. It’s worth trying out different things that you have either not heard of often, or that you simply don’t see in any other businesses in your industry. For example, have you ever thought about sending out woven patches with your company logo on them? Customers can put these on their bags or wherever they like, repping your business without even thinking about it.
The more different marketing methods you can think of, the better success you are going to have. You might be worried that people are going to think that you are weird, but more often than not they are going to appreciate the fact that you’re not the same as everyone else. It’s not those who blend in who have the most success, it’s those who stand out.
You’re Too Focused On Online Marketing
There are so many marketing strategies out there, it is all about using the right ones for your business. Some will work out great, while others will be pointless and won’t bring in much traffic. Consider which ones you are going to use and how much you have for marketing within your budget, you will need a fair chunk in order to gain visibility and attention.
Your sole focus shouldn’t always be using online marketing, although there is nothing stopping you from using this. However, do your research and find other ways to market your company. For example, if you have a physical business location then you might find it useful to advertise in the local magazine that gets delivered to the surrounding areas. People will flick through this when it comes and find your business. You could also use leafleting by posting flyers through people’s doors to let them know you exist.
You Don’t Understand SEO
Another reason your marketing isn’t seeing the success you hoped for could be because you don’t understand SEO. You may simply think that SEO is where you are ranked in search results, however, it is far more than this. While it is true and important where you come in the search results, it is also about how you get there.
Visibility as a business is so important as this is how you will gain customers and sales. Your marketing techniques and strategies are one way to manage this and improve it. By using SEO you are also building a trusted brand and improving credibility and reliability.
Your Website Is Not Good Enough
Finally, if you are not seeing the results you had hoped for then it might be time to switch up your website. Your website is where you will take orders when your main doors are shut so you need it to be working and stable enough to handle many customers and clients. It is common for online shoppers to browse between the hours of 7pm and 10pm so make sure your website is never down for maintenance during these hours. If you haven’t got the right content or information on your website then you may need to add this. For example, if you don’t want your customers scrolling and clicking endlessly then you should add a search bar. This makes it so much easier to find the page or product they are looking for.
If you have never designed a website before or you think you want to change your website design then it might be worthwhile speaking to a web design and development agency. They will look at your site and give you ways to improve, they will also do this for you. Make sure it fits into your budget, but it is definitely something you will want to do in order to keep your customers and clients interested.
We hope you found this article interesting and that it gave you some ideas on how you can keep your marketing ideas fresh and current. Every business will hit this hurdle at some point, it all depends on how you overcome it as to how long your business thrives for. In order to stand the test of time you will need to up your marketing game.
