| Before you can market, you need to know
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| | What is your competition doing.? How are
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| who you are marketing to. Who is your
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| | they marketing? What services do they
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| customer? How will you market? Will you
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| | offer? How do their prices compare to
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| cold call, mail, set appointments or
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| | yours? Some of the ways to determine this
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| employ a walk in approach? Be careful
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| | information is to talk to prospects who
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| with the walk in approach as many
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| | are now using your competitors products
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| businesses do not permit soliciting. You
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| | or service. Ask them, "How can I offer
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| might just want to drop off information
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| | and deliver the same things my
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| and follow up with a telephone call.
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| | competitors do - or better?" Obtain and
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| In order to determine who your market is
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| | study your competitors literature, for
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| look at your business plan. How did you
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| | example, promotional materials that
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| define your average customer? What was
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| | outline price, what services they offer,
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| your estimate of total market size? What
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| | products they are selling, etc. Keep all
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| territory did you intend to service? You
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| | the materials obtained on your
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| might want to make a table for the
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| | competition and update this information
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| following: Product/Service - list your
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| | on a quarterly basis. If there is a
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| product(s) or service(s). If you offer a
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| | industry publication that contains
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| variety of models or types, list them
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| | information on your competition,
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| separately. This will more clearly define
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| | subscribe and read it. You may be
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| your market. The more specific the
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| | surprised to find stories that reveal
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| answers to these questions, the easier it
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| | important information on your
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| will be to determine a marketing plan.
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| | competition. Attend trade shows,
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| What marketing techniques did you
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| | exhibits, and conferences for your
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| delineate in your business plan? Are you
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| | industry. Read the local papers and
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| using them, and if so, how effectively?
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| | papers in the area your competition is
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| One of the best ways to determine what
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| | located. Ask your customers what they
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| works best is to look at your
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| | like and dislike about your services or
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| competition.
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| | products.
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