This is actually a post I wrote on an early version of the Zestee website.
Marketing is a very broad term and covers a wide range of activities. Often people immediately think of advertising as marketing, but this is only a small part. Esentially marketing is all about building relationships, whether this is with customers, suppliers, staff, business allies or even the important but often-overlooked relationship between you and your own business.
It is also about communicating with people, for example to let customers know about your product or service, but also to understand what it is that your customers needs and wants are. Meeting these and offering true value is one of the keys to marketing and success in today’s highly competitive business world.
One marketing definition we particularly like is “..that marketing is entering into a a mutually beneficial value exchange” – this means bringing those together who want to do business (generally being that a business has a product or service to sell and a customer has money to buy it) and good marketing means both parties are happy and better off for having done business together.
Understanding at least the basics and having a marketing plan is your key to ensuring your business survives and makes money.
Is marketing relevant to me?
Marketing is relevant to everyone in our modern society. Whether you are aware of it or not, you interact daily with numerous aspects of marketing. If you go grocery shopping, watch tv, talk to friends and family or use the internet for example, marketing is relevant to you. As a consumer, it is interesting and useful to understand the marketing messages we are surrounded by daily. As a business owner, it is absolutely crucial to your success that you understand at least the basics of marketing and apply these to your own business.
Do you have a marketing plan?
Business and marketing are both extremely dynamic and there are factors both within your control and beyond it. Having some kind of written plan means that you are more likely to be able to confront and adapt to the many aspects of running a successful business and making money. It doesn’t have to be complicated, however you need to ensure you address all the relevant points. Most importantly, marketing planning is an ongoing activity, it’s not just something you do when you start your business and then forget about. Making marketing a part of your working day is a large part of ensuring your business survives.
Why should I work with a marketing consultant ?
Marketing as a discipline and field of study has a huge amount of information that can benefit your business, but can be a little daunting. Large businesses employ whole marketing teams and marketing experts, however small business owners need to wear many hats and may not have marketing experience. See the Wikipedia entry on Marketing for an example of the many various concepts which have been found to underlie success in both small and large business, but which may not mean a lot to you unless you have specific experience in marketing. Many business owners try to do it all themselves and the results can be very hit and miss.
Based on many years of field experience in a broad range of organisations, backed up by university level study, Zestee can help guide you through the maze. We can help you pick and choose the relevant tools to contribute directly to your own business’ situation and success. Using a marketing consultant means you can ask for help when you need it and we can work with you on a short or long term basis. Ultimately we focus on educating and empowering you to be able to continue marketing activities as part of managing your own business.
Is it expensive?
Zestee understands that most small businesses are run on an extremely limited budget. For that reason there are a number of tailored packages so you can choose which services you need and can afford. Please contact renee@zestee.com.au for a personalised quote or see our packages
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