10 Essential Marketing Tools That Every Business Should Be Using

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April 11, 2017 | By RGR Marketing Blog

Taking Your Business to the Next Level

Marketing is a constantly evolving field, and nothing has made this more true than the ongoing development of digital marketing. But, digital marketing isn’t everything – and to ensure the success and longevity of your business, your marketing plan will undoubtedly need more.

With that in mind, here are ten marketing tools, digital and otherwise, that every good business leader and entrepreneur needs to have in their kit for success.

1 – Email Marketing

Email marketing, if handled correctly (not spam), can be a terrific way to engage with your current, former, and potential customer base. Just make sure they agree to it before you start sending them your e-newsletter, abridged versions of your content, and special offers.

2 – Social Media Community Building

Social media is time consuming, and another constantly evolving landscape that can easily become a rabbit hole for those who don’t know how to build and leverage their online presence. When handled effectively, however, it can drive word of mouth (the single most-trusted form of advertising) while building buzz and community around your brand.

3 – Content Marketing

Good content marketing is still among the most effective ways to attract business on the Internet. Good content gets shared. Good content drives consumer trust in your brand and your company. Good content also drives participation in your community on social media. Poor content, content that plagiarizes the content of others, or content that just regurgitates the same basic points made by a multitude of similar, already published pieces on the Internet, gets quickly filtered out these days.

4 – Earned Media

In a nutshell, earned media is free exposure from outside media outlets. This includes online reviews from customers and clients on sites like Yelp. If you happen to be an expert in your field, you can leverage HARO (Help a Reporter Out), a powerful earned media tool that connects industry experts with reporters and journalists.

5 – An Updated Digital Storefront

Your website matters. Does it look fresh? Inviting? Like most other contemporary websites? Or are you running with the same website your friend’s kid put together for you back in the late 90s?

The chance that a prospective customer will call or visit your storefront without checking your website first these days is slim to none. Remember: your website is often the first or second place that begins to inform your potential customers begin about an impression of your company and brand.

6 – An Updated Physical Storefront

If you are not a business based solely on the Internet, then your customer’s first impression of your physical storefront is very important as well. Make sure it sends the message you want them to receive. This could be something as basic as keeping the sidewalks clean, and making sure your signage is readable and well lit, or something more complicated like special offers and unique, attractive printed signage you hang in your store’s windows.

7 – Physical Marketing Collateral

Along with your physical storefront, the marketing collateral associated with your brand, your logo, your printed materials (brochures, business cards, etc.), are very important as well. Even if you’re not going to go so far as to have baseball hats, embroidered jackets, and tote bags, the rest of your physical marketing collateral should speak for your company and brand in a clear and representative way.

8 – Real World Community Building

Because everything (and everyone) is not online just yet, real world community building – getting out into your community and getting to know people, hosting events for your core group of customers and supporters, etc. mailing out birthday and/or holiday cards, and the like – is still an important part of building community around your brand and finding solid local leads.

9 – Marketing Partnerships

Another great way to effectively expand your marketing reach without significantly increasing your marketing budget is to find like-minded individuals, organizations, and businesses that will help you market your products and services in exchange for you helping them with the same.

10 - Networking and Cause Marketing

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) there is no digital substitute for real networking, the kind where you talk to people in person, shake hands, exchange business cards, etc., just yet. What this means is, getting out to neighborhood events in your community, sponsoring local teams or causes, doing the kind of work that makes you a good corporate citizen is an oft overlooked, yet extremely productive way to find marketing partners, brand champions, and solid leads.

Creating a Comprehensive Marketing Plan Is Easier Than it Sounds

Ten tasks may be nine too many for your organization at this time, given the fact that most businesses have little extra time or effort to devote to marketing the brand properly. If that’s the case, then start by picking and choosing what your budget and time will allow, and then refocus your efforts when you are more able.

Remember: marketing is a work in progress. The greater your reach and the better your level of engagement with customers and leads, the greater the end results.

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Taking Your Business to the Next Level

1 – Email Marketing

2 – Social Media Community Building

3 – Content Marketing

4 – Earned Media

5 – An Updated Digital Storefront

6 – An Updated Physical Storefront

7 – Physical Marketing Collateral

8 – Real World Community Building

9 – Marketing Partnerships

10 - Networking and Cause Marketing

Creating a Comprehensive Marketing Plan Is Easier Than it Sounds

Start making more
money today!

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Contact Us

Taking Your Business to the Next Level

1 – Email Marketing

2 – Social Media Community Building

3 – Content Marketing

4 – Earned Media

5 – An Updated Digital Storefront

6 – An Updated Physical Storefront

7 – Physical Marketing Collateral

8 – Real World Community Building

9 – Marketing Partnerships

10 - Networking and Cause Marketing

Creating a Comprehensive Marketing Plan Is Easier Than it Sounds

Start making more money today!

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