WorldWide Drilling Resource

61 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® DECEMBER 2013 Marketing Tips for the New Year Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® As 2014 rapidly approaches, there is no time like the present to consider marketing strategies for your business. Start the year in the best way by ensur- ing your brand and products stand out among the rest. WWDR is here to help you create, execute, and maintain an effective promotional strategy. Here is a list of ten marketing tips to point you in the right direction. 1. Establish Organizational Goals - Think about what you would like your business to accomplish in the new year, and set goals accordingly. Goals should be specific, measureable, and include dates. 2. Identify Your Target Audience - Place yourself in the mind of your tar- get customer. Spend time researching your audience. This will help you find the channels necessary to reach them. 3. Create a Calendar of Events - Once you have focused on your goals and audience, create a calendar devot- ed specifically to your marketing plan. Highlight key development phases of your plan, benchmarks, and other essen- tial dates. 4. Develop Your Content - Use your company’s key messages to draft press releases, Facebook posts, tweets, or other content for online venues. Keep in mind you want to get your message across without it sounding like a “sales pitch”; so keep your content informa- tional for the most part and subtly refer to your brand/products. 5. Aim for a Huge Audience, but Cater to the Individual - If you want to target a massive audience, select media publications with global distribution. But just because you are marketing to the masses doesn’t mean your message has to be generic in nature. Catering to in- dividual desires and needs builds trust and ongoing relationships. 6. Never Underestimate the Power of Images - Support your content with images and videos. Appealing to visual senses draws a larger audience. Use visual media to promote your goods and services, introduce your employees, and give product tutorials. 7. Support a Cause - Find a pur- pose and create some goodwill among potential and current customers. Sponsor a pet adoption, local sports team, or group fundraiser. Volunteer your serv- ices to a school or charity and gain expo- sure for your business in the process. 8. Give to Get - Keep your logo present at industry events and in publi- cations and industry Web sites. Refer business to others to forge strategic alliances. Attending trade events is a great opportunity to network. 9. Create a Unique Giveaway - Give people something they won’t throw away or lose easily. As always, consid- er your audience and their needs and wants. 10. Edit as Necessary - Not every marketing plan will be successful immedi- ately. Measure your results and take some time to consider problem areas. Edit the plan and relaunch!