At this time of the year blogs are full of “2,344 tips to improve your sales in 2010″ and “867 ways to make more money in 2010″ so I thought “Hey, what the heck – I must do a top tips posting too!”

So here are my top 5 marketing tips to make 2010 your best ever!

MARKETING TIP #1 – Join in the community

If you’re not embracing and joining in the social media frenzy then now is the time. Join in, write blogs, contribute to discussions, run shoulders with your prospects and clients online. Get to know what they are talking about and doing and you will be in a much better position to sell and market to them.

MARKETING TIP #2 – If it moves measure it!

Do you know how much you make for every £1 you invest in marketing?

Do you know how many people return to your website?

Now, more than ever before you need to measure what you do and refine, retest and modify what you do.

You cannot manage what you cant measure. You need to make every pound/dollar/effort count!

MARKETING TIP #3 – Have 4 marketing plans in place

When I say 4 plans I actually mean 1 big marketing plan split out into 4 sections.

You need to have a specific marketing plan for 4 types of people/organisations:

THOSE WHO YOU ARE GOING TO TARGET AS NEW PROSPECTS/CLIENTS (BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT)

THOSE WHO ENGAGE WITH YOU AND STALL ON DECISIONS/SAY MAYBE ETC

THOSE THAT SAY NO

EXISTING CLIENTS

MARKETING TIP #4 – Revisit your USP

Most Unique Selling Propositions are not unique at all.

Do the “So what test” on all of the key benefits and USP’s you claim for your products, services and business.

“Great service” is not a USP – it’s a given

“100% moneyback guarantee” is not a USP – it’s a given

Ask yourself “Are our USP’s really unique?”

By positioning yourself in a different way, it could really make a big difference.

MARKETING TIP #5 – Make your car a mobile university!

I worked it out the other day that I listened to 34 days worth of educational CD’s in my car in 2009!

Years ago I would listen to music CD’s or Radio 1 but today I use this “dead time” to educate myself when travelling to and from work and on my way to prospects and clients.

I don’t lose any time off work and at the same time I improve my knowledge and skills.

So less of the mind numbing chit chat and put on some CD’s that will improve your marketing, sales and organisational skills.

Follow these 5 marketing tops and make 2010 your best yet!

All the best

Sean

Sean McPheat

Marketing Consultant – Motivational Speaker – Sales Expert

Just reading in the news that Disney is in the process of buying Marvel Entertainment that owns the rights to Spider-Man, The Hulk, Fantastic Four and a further 5,000 markatable characters!

Good ole Spidey will soon be rubbing shoulders with Mickey and Mini!

The price?

£2.5 billion ($4 billion)

And in my opinion it’s a snip at that price!

Having just come back from a magical time in Disneyworld Florida, I came to see at close quarters the money making machine that is Disney.

Just think of all of the additional super-hero films they can now produce on he back of this deal?

Just think of the merchandise for every film?

DVD’s, audios, books, key rings…

The theme rides and their merchandise!

I could go on and on and on.

If you look closely at Disney’s marketing model, they create a front end product i.e “the film” and then build everything on the back end. The film is a showpiece and then they make their millions (or billions!) on everything else.

It’s a great business model and one that you should look into for your business.

Sean

Sean McPheat

Sales Expert & Marketing Consultant

To cut your marketing budget or not to cut your marketing budget…..that is the question!

Here are 5 reasons why you should actually INCREASE your marketing during a recession…

1. GAIN MARKET SHARE

Your competitors will be reducing their marketing activity so you’ll be in a prime position to gain some market share.

2. CONFIDENCE

When you consistently get in front of your prospects and customers with your marketing messages, you’ll begin to build up a valuable brand for when the times are good again. This will increase the confidence of your prospects.

3. INCREASE ONLINE SPEND

Many of your competitors will get their fingers burned with Google Adwords because they will not know how to do it correctly. I see so many companies cut back in this area. I would actually increase your marketing in this area because when you get a visitor from a google adword link it means that they are part qualified before you start! Increase your google adwords spend.

4. DON’T HAVE A KNEE JERK REACTION

Some companies try marketing activities and then give up if they don’t work. My advice would be to test and refine your marketing methods. Try different methods like viral ads, telemarketing, joint ventures and others. Set aside some budget to test new marketing methods and then refine them.

5. PLAY THE LONG GAME

Think strategically and not tactically. What can you do to help your clients and prospects throughout this recession to be seen as the saviour of your marketplace. Now is the time to show your true colours not just when the times are good.

Happy Recession Marketing!

Sean

Sean McPheat

Marketing Consultant – Sales Expert

Here’s a recent email I received from James Kenny who is a small business owner in the UK:

“Hi Sean

I attended a seminar from you about 3 years ago and as you say it was awesome! So glad that you have changed your site to a blog – means we can all get better access to your great materials!

I’ve got a question for you. I’ve recently started a brand new company and need some low cost/no cost marketing advice - what would you tell me to do if I were paying for your services?!!!

Cheeky I know!

Thanks for all that you do

James Kenny

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Here are my thoughts on this…

Cheeky is the right word!

However, if you don’t ask…

Here are some quick tips:

1. Ask your current clients from your existing business

Ask them in a non-threatening way – “Hi John, I’ve just started a new company and wondered if you know of anyone who would be interested in ABC?”

With this approach you get to introduce your products and services to them as though they are going to refer people to you when you get to sell and market to them and ask for referrals at the same time!

Neat huh?

2. Strike up some joint ventures

Who has already got a relationship with the customers that you want to market to?

Make sure they are in a non competing market/product.

So for example: If I were offering a new type of long endurance battery, I might want to try some joint ventures with toy shops etc

Then, ask the owner of the business to strike up some sort of turnover/profit share agreement.

It costs you nothing and you can both make a few bob.

3. Send out postcards

By far the most cost effective direct mailing strategy is to send out postcards.

They get read, are to the point and don’t take up a lot of time to read.

You can rent a list of go down the yellow pages.

I hope those are of use?

Of course I could go into greater detail with each of these and I’ve got lots more but you WOULD have to pay me for those!

Thanks again and happy marketing

Sean

Sean McPheat – Marketing Consultant & Marketing Expert