Marketing
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Marketing
Successful businesses develop a formal marketing plan to strategize how they will reach their target customers helping them to think about what format they will use and how often they will use it.
Marketing plan
1. Look over the Marketing Plan template.
Look through all the promotional items available on the Marketing Plan. If you are not sure what they are, click on the links available to learn more.
2. Think about your target market. Which of these tools are most likely to reach them? What channels will reach them? Think about where your target customers "hang out".
Be creative! Go wild! Show off your entrepreneurial traits by finding other tools and ways to do marketing.
3. Review this page for lots of marketing suggestions.
Best Practices:
Choose at least 3 promotional tools. The required ones for class include: A logo& Instagram
Your expenses may change once you implement these tools. You should update your financials as this happens.
Evaluate the use of these tools as you use them and make changes as needed. Think carefully about how you will know if the tool is working.
Promotional Tools
Check out this list of promotional tools and decide which ones are good for your business.
Marketing Plan - Google Docs.webmChannels
Review the channel where you will sell your product/service.
At school
At farmer's market
On social media
At church
At partner store
At brick & mortar store location
Online
Check to see what items you might need that are also marketing materials:
Sign
Flyer
Business Card
Table set up
Email collection of site visitors
Tools
Logo
*a required tool for class*
*a required tool for class*
1. Learn why you should create a logo here.
2. Make a FREE LOGO! Follow these links to find the best free template site for you or search for other options.
Instagram
*a required tool for class*
*a required tool for class*
1. Create a separate account from your personal one, this should be a never used before account.
Not sure how to do this? Follow along here.
2. Set up a profile for your business.
Add a logo in the profile pic space
Make sure your business name is also in the profile
Describe your business (value proposition) in the profile as well
Link to a website if you end up making one
2. Follow @Launchatmcc instagram account and others, look at other businesses via #MCCBiz.
3. Make your first IG post, it can be anything, try announcing when you hope to launch. Not sure how to do this? Follow along here.
Social Media Examples
Check out student business examples at the IDEA Center webpage & professional business launches at the Launch At MCC site
Sample student marketing from entrepreneurship Class:
Instagram:
Suggestions for social media
Things to try with all social media:
Ask people to like the page
Post interesting articles related to what selling
Have a contest on one of the images asking people to tag others and follow
Follow lots of people, often times they will follow back (as long as you have posts already)
Use hashtags to reach a broader audience – figure out keywords that might explain what problem you are solving or the product
Use trending hashtags
Have a plan for posting, don't want to exhaust people with posts
Use fun captions or write up a little summary or story – again with hashtags
Use great photos that are crisp and clear
Write a substantial “about me” profile section
Hustle! If it isn’t working, keep trying and then try something else!
Social Media
Great Professional Examples
Her Massage - great service photos, interesting content not directly related to product, beautiful brand color and style usage
Nibbana Cafe - great product photos, interesting content not directly related to product, beautiful brand color and style usage
Humanity - great content, changes often, beautiful color scheme, focus on mission of "women live, love, and lead in style."
Nutella – fun content, recipes of how to use, suggestion about things to do with friends / family
Threadless – great images, fun content, used images from t-shirts but not actual t-shirts shown
Lipstick Lobby - great images, tells a story of strength and beauty - social enterprise example
Barefoot_Beck - great product display; management of small batches
State Bags - great styling - social enterprise example
Sugar Dust – great product photos, interesting content not directly related to product
Untitled: Oct 23, 2019 1:48 PM.webmCheck out this year long calendar of ideas. Can you incorporate some of these into your marketing?
Leverage
Marketing Tactics
Marketing Tactics
Use these concepts to help you develop meaningful social media posts that help you stand out as a leader who resonates with the customer versus just selling.
Review lecture from class as needed:
Editing Tools & Helpful Tips
Use own photos, edit on phone or computer
Superimpose (put different layers of images together to create new pics)
Cut It Out (isolate items from images)
Over (helps you put words on top of images)
Further Learning
Marketing Channels Your Small Business Should Utilize, by Maricel Rivera, The Blueprint, Jan 2021
Learn many marketing techniques including content marketing, social media, SEO, etc. by taking courses and certifications from HubSpot - many are free!
Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce President, Danielle McFadden - Social Media Blog
LinkedIN Learning - Social Media