4 Ps for Planning and Executing a Marketing Strategy
Marketing refers to various activities that a business undertakes to advertise the sale or purchasing of a specific product, service, or item. A marketing strategy is formulated according to the type of merchandise or service to be marketed and its potential market. Marketing involves identifying potential customers, creating advertising materials, and disseminating information about the merchandise or service. Marketing is the primary weapon in any business’s toolkit. In order to be effective, marketing should be planned and implemented efficiently.
Modern marketing techniques include print media, television, radio, and the Internet. Print media, such as brochures, books, and magazines; broadcast media, such as radio and TV programs; and the Internet, such as websites and e-mails, are the traditional areas of marketing. The Internet has greatly expanded the area of marketing to new areas such as web marketing. Websites can be used for the promotion of services and products as well as for advertising and marketing an existing business.
Marketing today has taken on a much more complex form with the advent of social media. Social media provides a platform for businesses to interact with their consumers in a more personal manner. The increased popularity of the Internet and the accessibility of affordable communication tools has increased the reach and impact of marketing to a greater degree than in previous years. Marketing strategies can be designed and implemented that target key demographics and geographic areas. This type of marketing takes into account the unique needs of each demographic to ensure a higher percentage of interested parties are reached by the advertisements.
Marketing strategies can also take into consideration the customer service quality of a business. A good example of this concept is restaurant customer service. A restaurant owner might provide a menu with suggested cuisine options as well as a brief description of the cuisine, including how the dish was prepared. However, a knowledgeable staff member could also highlight foods with a high customer value rating, explaining the difference between high quality food and great customer service, and how the difference could translate directly into higher sales.
Finally, a well-developed marketing strategy will include developing a solid customer relations program. A customer relations program is designed around a company’s marketing goals and objectives. It includes internal training, informative seminars, and providing promotions that build brand awareness. A marketing department can also use various types of media, including social media, to promote customer satisfaction and increase sales cycle numbers.
All of the above strategies fall under the larger umbrella of digital marketing, which covers a wide variety of online activities. The key to a successful digital marketing effort is to carefully plan, execute, and evaluate each phase of the project. Although some companies view this as an incredibly complicated task, it is a necessary component of the overall plan because it allows the company to see results faster than if the execution was delayed or failed in any other way. Following these 4 Ps for planning and executing an effective marketing strategy is essential to its success.