New Year’s resolutions have a tendency to start strong and then, for some, fizzle out as the not-so-new-year progresses. Hoping to encourage more strength and less fizzle, we’ve compiled a list of seven marketing resolutions that will fine tune your acumen and better position your brand, products and services. Each comes with a helpful, free marketing resource, so peruse the list and start strengthening your resolve today!
1. Make plans.
Whether it’s an overview of the year’s events or a simple promotion outline, document your plan so you have a helpful tool to keep you on track from start to completion. Include benchmark dates and set reminders using Microsoft Outlook or any preferred calendar program or tool. Not only will your plan help you stay focused, it will provide necessary information to others on your team in your absence.
Get the Produce Marketer’s Master Calendar
2. Be more helpful.
Throughout all aspects of marketing, from tradeshows and events to ads and social media, seek to provide answers and solutions to customer questions and needs. Consider making how-to blog posts and educational videos or directly addressing concerns in ad and website copy. Make sure your efforts are timely, customized and consistent, and your customers will grow to depend and rely on you.
Download 13 Tricks for a Successful Tradeshow
3. Become more data-driven and measure results.
Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Sensitive) goals. Track analytics on a weekly basis and report on Visits, Leads and Customers by source, as well as the performance of marketing assets such as web pages, landing pages and calls to action.
Request a free consultation on measurable marketing
4. Create more visual, relevant and diverse content.
Updated content is SEO’s best friend and helpful resources should be ready and available once visitors land on your digital platforms. Some helpful guidelines include: blogging at least twice a week, posting one video to YouTube in Q1, repurposing and promoting blog articles via social media channels, and putting your team’s design skills to work in order to produce shareable, scrollable and pinnable opportunities. Use imagery if at all possible (and we can’t think of many instances when it’s not).
Get content creation tips for produce marketers
5. Better optimize digital marketing tactics to get found online.
Conduct a website audit by looking at meta-descriptions, page titles, H1 Tags, Image Alt Text, links and calls to action. Read up on the basics of SEO and continually look for ways to improve social performance throughout the year. And, try conducting an A/B test for your landing pages periodically.
Download The Essential Guide to Digital Marketing
6. Learn from external resources.
Identify other companies that are great at marketing, dissect why you are drawn to their tactics and learn from their strategies. You’ll likely be inspired and find some takeaways that can be applied to your own marketing practices. Don’t forget to attend educational conferences and subscribe to a marketing blog or two so you can learn while you sip your morning coffee or nighttime tea. Accept constructive criticism from coworkers, customers and strangers. This could also mean listening to the ideas of a new-hire or intern as you teach them your company’s best practices.
Get the Internship Guide for Produce Companies
7. Master social media.
Maximize opportunities for direct consumer connections/conversations by honing your Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin skills. Conducting research on Instagram strategies wouldn’t hurt either. Make sure your profiles are complete so you look legitimate and seek to engage with people by commenting on their posts and tweets rather than just pushing your own content.
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Here’s to a happy, healthy and productive New Year for you, your business and your customers. And, let us know how we can help you achieve your 2014 marketing goals!
