Sunday, May 24, 2009

The Keys to Developing Successful Marketing Strategies

A successful marketing strategy is judged by how effectively it can be used. Many people know that a successful marketing strategy puts a lot of different factors into consideration and uses these factors as a collective.

There are, however, five main keys to developing successful marketing strategies. Every successful entrepreneur will tell you that these five always play a part in the development of a successful marketing strategy:

1) Strengths - A successful marketing strategy always considers the various strengths that a company has. These strengths should be present within the company and the company should be able to use it in order to achieve the desired goal. It is clear that every company has strengths which it could use to gain advantages over the competition. These strengths could range from having more resources to having more experience. The strategy must utilize the strengths to the maximum. Every effort expended should be directed towards the achievement of the goal.

2) Weaknesses - Just as every company has strengths, every company also has its weaknesses. A successful marketing strategy needs to take these weaknesses into account and help people overcome them. A successful marketing strategy should be realistic regarding its weaknesses in order to truly be effective.

Successful marketing strategies have often turned potential weaknesses into strengths. Anything is possible with the right manipulation of a company's strength. By taking account of the potential weaknesses, a company will be able to find ways of coping for those weaknesses. They could actually remedy those weaknesses and make sure that they will not be the downfall of the company.

3) Opportunities - Successful marketing strategies have always taken advantage of every available opportunity for advancement. By taking account of existing opportunities, a company will be looking at the various stepping stones that it can use in order to achieve success. Various opportunities are always available in a market.

However, these opportunities are often shrouded and need a keen eye and a good sense to take advantage of them. In taking advantage of opportunities, however, the company must not lose sight of the main goal through which it can measure success.

4) Threats - Since the market contains opportunities for the company, it should also be mentioned that it does contain threats. People should be aware of any potential even that could bring a company to its knees.

Successful marketing strategies have always included methods of riding out these threats and adapting to them in such a way that they will endure them. The most successful marketing strategies, in fact, have actually been able to turn these threats into opportunities. Take BMW for example: when it was faced with the threat of being forbidden to manufacture airplanes, it took to manufacturing cars. That's a great way of turning a threat into an opportunity.

5) Implementation - A marketing strategy needs to be implemented in order to be successful. The implementation is the final test of how successful a marketing strategy actually is. It could be clever, it could be simple, it could be cunning, and it could be obvious. The successful marketing strategy is always implemented. Without this final test, the marketing strategy is just a marketing strategy. Success is determined by the use, not by the design.

These are the five keys to a successful marketing strategy. Mark them well, for they might help you to achieve success someday.

About the Author

Daegan Smith Is And Expert Online Marketer
"Wanna Lean The Secret To Making $85,147,717
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Monday, November 17, 2008

Copywriting When Your Offer Sounds Too Good To Be True

Copywriters face a special challenge when you offer a "knock you socks off" benefit. Readers will notice the promise and tell themselves, "I dont believe it." They click away to another website.

Recently I saw a notice promising "free web hosting without ads." And I dismissed the promise as yet another "too good to be true." I was reminded of all those diet plans that promise you can eat all the chocolate and french fries you want and still lose weight.

But suppose you really can deliver a product or service thats truly unique. In the free web hosting example, maybe customers automatically receive an ezine filled with hard-hitting ads. The hosting company could sell space in their ezine or they could run their own adsense or affiliate ads. Now the business model makes sense and customers will believe the promise - if you tell them.

So if you have a "too good to be true" offer:

1 Promise only what you really deliver. That means no surprises and no hidden fees, charges or conditions.

Suppose that web hosting company doesnt charge hosting fees or show ads on your website. But instead you have to join a club with monthly dues of 40. Or you buy their design services, whether you need them or not. Or they charge a set-up fee.

In any of these cases, their offer would not be genuine. As a copywriter, I would have to make sure customers really knew what they were buying.

Sounds far-fetched Ive seen dozens of "free stuff" offers from big name marketers. When I say yes, Im directed to an order form to pay shipping charges. Usually theyre modest -- just a few bucks because the marketer wants to capture your name and physical address.

But once I saw a terrific offer to get a product for 20... if Id pay a 40 shipping fee to get 6 CDs and a notebook. The actual shipping costs less than 10 and packaging maybe another 2. This offer comes dangerously close to being deceptive.

2 Design a website that absolutely screams credibility. Use colors, words and layout to communicate sincerity and commitment.

You dont have to spend big bucks on design. Most of the top marketers spend very little. In fact, a simple design with easy navigation and magnetic copy will encourage visitors to trust and buy from you.

3 Include testimonials with full names and URLs of satisfied customers and clients. If your clients dont have websites, use their cities and ideally tell readers their occupations.

You have to convince readers that these testimonials came from real people. These days, "Mary S from Chicago" will actually cost more credibility than no testimonial at all.

4 Defuse the hype. Include a line like, "Heres how we are able to make this offer." You may have a system, ingredient or business model that allows you to offer special value.

Ideally, you will translate your unique quality into a benefit. For example, a client says, "Most consultants require 4 visits to analyze your system. We need just 1 on-site visit. The copy will read:

"With 20 years of experience in this specialty, we have developed a 3-step system that allow us to analyze your system with just one on-site visit. You benefit because you can continue your business without interruptions. Your increase in productivity will more than justify your entire investment in our services." systems that create savings in time and money. Therefore, we can offer solution that deliver higher return for your investment."

5 Use a news type headline instead of a claim or "struggle" headline. So instead of "Get a free web host without advertising," you could say, "New 3-in-one program delivers free web hosting without ads." The sub-headings will assure readers, "No hidden charges or cancellation fees."
About the Author

And now I invite you to learn more techniques to attract clients and generate website revenue by claiming your free download of 7 Copywriting Secrets to Increase Sales. Get instant access by visiting
7 Free Copywriting Tips
From Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., Your Website Makeover Pro.

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