Driving targeted prospects to your website, capturing their contact
information and closing a sale can be difficult without four
basic elements of marketing: 1) building the relationship,
2) keeping clients informed, 3) aligning your brand and 4)
selling (closing the deal). When these segments are
implemented properly, you have developed a B.I.A.S.
towards your company, resulting in an advantage and
influence over prospects that sets you apart from
competitors.
What is B.I.A.S. Marketing?
B.I.A.S. Marketing drives prospects to your
website, increasing your ability to capture important
contact information for future sales. When implemented
correctly, you leverag your chances to identify, attract and
capture targeted prospects and then turn them into loyal
clients.
Elements of an effective B.I.A.S. Marketing campaign
include:
Building and maintain relationships. Develop an
unfair advantage over competitors. Provide products and
services that create two-way communication between potential
prospects and your business. To accomplish this, first know
who your target customers are. You can identify these
individuals by breaking your ideal target audience into the
smallest category possible of individuals who specifically
want and need your services.
Once you have matched your product or service with the
right prospects, focus on the problem that troubles them on
a daily basis. Present your workable solution that solves
the problem, and viola, you become their go-to person and
problem solver. You have created the beginnings of a
potentially profitable long-term relationship. Continue
solving problems and you will have clients for life.
Inform. Provide general information or resources
for your customers. Become passionate about your clients’
customers and products. Gain their attention by supplying
information that demonstrates your interest and commitment
to their success.
For example, keep abreast of new technologies that may
impact their industry, send informative articles, monitor
trends, and introduce them to your network of non-competing
clients, which may open doors for joint venture
opportunities or affiliations. Take it for granted that
clients’ memories are short. They may not even remember you
even when they need your services. Strengthen the
relationships by communicating frequently and the doors for
profitable business opportunities with remain open.
Align. Stay in tune with your branding or overall
business objectives. Never forget your ultimate goals:
creating long-term profitable relationships and loyalty
between you and your customers.
Ensure that every time you “touch” your client, i.e.
communicate in some manner, the connection advances your
objective and can be easily associated with your company’s
mission and purpose. In other words, stay true to your own
business objective and personality and at the same time,
become a valuable asset in the client’s mind.
Sell. Supply methods to close the deal. Your
ultimate goal is to make the sale. To accomplish this,
create a clearly defined Value Positioning Statement (VPS),
or as it is sometimes called Unique Selling Proposition (USP),
and include the following as part of your B.I.A.S. Marketing
strategy:
• Market your solutions and benefits, not features, and
integrate that core marketing message into everything you
do. Assume your customers are unaware of everything you do
• Communicate your capabilities regularly with a
well-defined stay-in-touch program
• Maintain an up-to-date customer database, regularly
telling prospects what actions you want them to take
• Make it as easy as possible for prospects to conduct
business by eliminating risk
• Make your website assessable and pull them in for the
sale. Provide several ways for them to contact you and/or
purchase your product.
By implementing this B.I.A.S. Marketing strategy
your target prospects will come, purchase and return. You
will achieve your ultimate business objective of gaining
loyal customers and creating profitable relationships.
Sharon Williams is president and CEO of The 24 Hour
Secretary, an administrative, secretarial, marketing
and internet-based business support firm open 24
hours a day. Her company helps busy and often
overwhelmed executives and entrepreneurs achieve
their goals by giving the gift of time. Subscribe to
Smart Business = Success, which is stocked
with tips for busy professionals and located at
The 24 Hour Secretary.
|
·