Sobel Co. LLC Marketing Blog

While most businesses across every industry sector have marketing and sales as a key function, they may not have time to write a specific marketing plan. Even those with written plans may not have included the critical  ”implementation” component to ensure that the plan leaps off the paper to become reality.

In order for your company to successfully market itself, especially those of you with limited resources, you will be more successful if  you assign tasks to your employees, holding them accountable for some of your marketing initiatives.  Each employee can have responsibility for an area that best leverages their skills. Someone may want to start a blog - like this one!. Others are great at making presentations to potential customers or vendors. There are opportunities for all, from networking at community events to writing articles of relevance for your audience - and everything in between.

The key to successful marketing and branding is to be sure that you delegate a wide range of tasks, that when integrated together, become a cohesive and effective marketing strategy.  In order for this to really work well, someone must be held accountable for each of the various programs, events or opportunities  that you have decided on.  Good luck!

Thre are so many ways to reach your customers to build a distinctive brand for your company, that the multitude of options can leave you without a focused plan and with your head swimming! Before you jump into anything, first consider your customers and what they most value from you. If it is news about their industry or innovative ideas that will help them be more efficient or more profitable, then consider how you can consistently transmit  meaningful information to them that will be relevant for their situation.

A blog is one idea. While not the be-all-and-end-all of marketing tools, a blog can have an important role, enabling you to have a process for sharing meaningful information with a targeted audience. It provides you with a vehicle for adding real value to your customers as you share industry trends, information about new products and services, and suggestions for solving some of their most critical issues.

Hopefully you are also gaining value from visiting the Sobel & Co. blog. If so, please tell your friends about us - and feel free to contact me with any marketing quetsions you might have at sally.glick@sobel-cpa.com.

A recent study by Fortune magazine reports that in today’s market, companies can no longer effectively differentiate their products or services from their competitors’ offerings. The conclusion suggested is that companies distinguish themselves, not their products, and one way to do that is by behaving as good corporate citizens. Fortune recommends that “nice guys no longer finish last.” In fact, their suggestion is that the businesses that are philanthropic, concerned and committed will be the ones that attract more customers. 

As you consider your 2010 marketing budget and begin to make plans for your new marketing initiatives, think about the community you live in and find ways to get involved and make a significant impact. Your sincere approach to being more responsible may be your best marketing tactic!

When you are looking for ways to distinguish your company’s brand, and add value to your customers, one option may be to consider strategic aliances with other organzations that also serve your audience.  If you can create a “one stop” shop platform, or just make additional services and products available, clients will appreciate the effort.   Spas and salons  have done this for years,  providing space for boutiques to display clothing or jewelry to enhance their customers experience.  Professional service providers can also do this, with CPA firms offering  cost segregation studies, R&D credits or wealth management services to clients through strategic alliances that go beyond the firm’s core competencies. The more you can address your customers’ needs, the more loyalty you will build for your future!