Survey Says New Technology and Marketing Key to Business Growth April 3, 2012
Posted by dennissommer in Marketing.Tags: Business Growth, Dennis Sommer, Executive Business Advisers, Marketing, marketing best practices, marketing strategies
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A majority of business leaders plan to use digital, social media, tablets and smartphones as marketing tools in the coming year to grow their business.
Business leaders are increasing their use of the Internet and social media platforms to connect with customers and grow their businesses, according to a recent survey by Citibank, of 749 business leaders.
A majority of the business leaders surveyed, (65 percent) cited increased marketing activities as a key step in growing their business. The survey also found that smartphones ranked as the best technology solution for businesses, with nearly half (48 percent) currently using smartphones.
While the large majority (70 percent) of business leaders used their company website as a marketing channel, (41 percent) said they have used social media channels, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, in the last year. Sixty-two (62 percent) haven’t used email for marketing purposes. A figure that remains the same from when Citibank first surveyed business leaders about social media and online marketing in 2010.
As business leaders are moving online, and relying more heavily on their company website, online channels represent an emerging opportunity to help grow their businesses. In fact, many business leaders plan to use digital and social media tools in the coming year.
According to the survey, (60 percent) plan to increase activity on their website for marketing purposes, (40 percent) intend to use social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter for marketing and (38 percent) plan to leverage email marketing tactics to drive awareness and sales of products and services.
What does this all mean?
Slowly but surely, business leaders are starting to spend more time and money on their marketing and technology programs. They are starting to understand, to increase their market share, awareness of their business and drive business growth, they need to implement cost effective and efficient technology and marketing tools.
So, what are you going to do this year to drive your business growth?
Until next time . . .
Think Big and Take Action !
Dennis Sommer
Dennis Sommer is the CEO of Executive Business Advisers . Dennis is a highly sought after business growth expert with over 25 years experience. His specialty is helping companies improve their business performance and sales revenue growth in 30 days.
If improving business performance and sales revenue growth is a priority of yours this year, contact us today to see how Executive Business Advisers can help. Call 330-676-1876 or email us at sales@ebaac.com
Copyright © 2012 Dennis Sommer All rights reserved.
Is a Strong Branding Strategy Key to Increasing Sales Revenue Growth March 15, 2012
Posted by dennissommer in Marketing, Strategic Planning.Tags: brand marketing, Dennis Sommer, increasing sales revenue, Marketing, marketing best practices, marketing strategies, Sales Revenue, sales revenue growth, strategies to increase sales
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Oddly enough, in today’s business world, great products and services are seldom enough to make a lasting impression on your customers. In today’s competitive market, a strong branding strategy is key to increasing sales revenue growth and will help ensure that customers remember your business as the ”Go To” source for their needs.
A strong branding strategy includes your company’s name, logo, symbols, web site and all other tools that define your business in the minds of customers and, perhaps more importantly, differentiates your business from others providing the same products and services in your industry.
Branding and marketing go hand in hand, according to marketing experts. If you can build a strong brand, you will have a strong marketing program. If you can’t, then all the advertising, fancy packaging, sales promotions and PR in the world won’t help you with sales revenue growth.
Almost anything can be branded in your business, including your company, products, services and you. Strong branding is not as simple as you might think. It is complex and involves the customer’s total experience with you, your product or your service. The most effective branding combines both online and offline collateral. The web offers tremendous low cost opportunities for promoting your brand.
Keep in mind, the best branding tends to focus on emotions and appeals to a person’s natural need for improvement. Be original in identifying your brand identity. Identify the things that truly sets your business apart from others in your industry. Everybody focuses on quality and service, for example, so look for something that’s truly different. If you are having trouble pinpointing your branding strategy, try asking your customers what they need from you the most, then base your brand on that.
One final point to consider. Simplicity is a virtue in a strong branding strategy. Customers are overwhelmed by excess information. Too much information confuses your brand message. Keep your branding strategy simple and focused and you will have a strong branding strategy that will dramatically increase sales revenue growth.
Until next time . . .
Think Big and Take Action !
Dennis Sommer
Dennis Sommer is the CEO of Executive Business Advisers . Dennis is a highly sought after business growth expert with over 25 years experience. His specialty is helping companies quickly improve business performance and sales revenue growth.
If improving business performance and sales revenue growth is a priority of yours this year, contact us today to see how Executive Business Advisers can help. Call 330-676-1876 or email us at sales@ebaac.com
Copyright © 2012 Dennis Sommer All rights reserved.
5 Tweaks to Energize Your Business Growth April 4, 2011
Posted by dennissommer in Marketing, Sales.Tags: Business Growth, Business Improvement, Dennis Sommer, Executive Business Advisers, Marketing, Sales
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Are you going through the same old motions that worked in the past with fewer results today? Have you run out of good ideas? Are your competitors taking business away from you? If so, what you might need to do is make a few tweaks to energize your business growth.
It doesn’t need to be a major overhaul of your business. A few minor tweaks might be enough. The important thing is to recognize the need for action and make informed decisions.
To identify where changes are most needed, you will have to dig for details about various aspects of your business. Don’t focus on individual issues, but how they fit together as a whole.
Start with these 5 areas:
1. Create a New Image
Has your customer base changed since you first started? Is the market broader or narrower, older or younger, more upscale or less? You might need a new image, revved up branding or perhaps just a rewrite of your website and marketing materials.
2. Improve Value Delivered
Take a hard look at whether your products or services are competitive and performing up to customer value expectations. Your goal should be to exceed value expectations. Your own customers can help with this. Talk with your customers and get feedback on how your products or services are adding value to their business and what could be done to improve them.
3. Improve Marketing Results
If your marketing is not generating a large number of leads and buying customers, it may be time to re-evaluate and devise a new marketing strategy. Take a look at your message, presentation, what you are offering and the marketing methods used to reach your target customer.
4. Recapture Your Enthusiasm
Revisit your original business plan. You might be able to recapture some of the insight and enthusiasm you originally had when starting your business. Think back to your most successful promotions, presentations or sales efforts. Rather than reinventing the wheel, you might be able to update and expand an approach that has already worked for your business in the past.
5. Seek Outside Perspectives
Don’t be afraid to seek outside perspectives from others. After all, you might be too close to the situation to understand the key issues, sources and potential solutions. Meet and brainstorm with your trusted advisers, mentors, friends, partners, employees and outside consultants. Ask customers to give you frank feedback.
A few tweaks to your business may be just what is needed to energize your business improvement and growth.
Think Big and Take Action !
Dennis Sommer
Dennis Sommer is the CEO of Executive Business Advisers . Dennis is a highly sought after sales, marketing and business growth expert. His specialty is helping CEO’s and executive teams improve their business performance and growth.
If improving business growth, sale or marketing performance is a priority of yours this year, contact us today to see how Executive Business Advisers can help. Call 800-627-6512 or email us at sales@ebaac.com
Dennis Sommer Business and Technology Leader 