BroadVision Marketing Blog

[This article first appeared here in May 2016 and has been updated and expanded.]

Businesses that thrive are efficient and focus on what they do best, and this often means outsourcing certain functions, such as inbound lead generation.

But this approach can be a challenge for smaller companies and start ups.

Topics: inbound marketing strategy, agencies, lead generation strategy, marketing help, Marketing strategy, lead generation, outsourcing, inbound lead generation

Everyone says you need their product or service. We get it. But in today's digital world there really is one thing your business needs: Digital Marketing.

Whether you undertake it yourself or hire a digital marketing service, marketing your business online is a necessity for most every business.

 

So, What Is Digital Marketing Exactly?

Every business needs to be seen and heard.

One of the most fundamental and basic requirements for any commercial endeavor, be that a simple lemonade stand or a multi-national services enterprise, is attention. Potential customers or clients must take notice of you.

“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?”

One could reasonably ask, "If you have a business and no one knows, does it exist?"  

In the days prior to April 30, 1993, there was no Internet, no World Wide Web, no marketing "online" as we often refer to it today. There was only advertising, public relations, and publicity. And word of mouth, of course.

Without any of these platforms promoting the existence of your business, it would not exist for all practical purposes.

Today is no different.

Almost everyone goes to the Internet - usually with their cell phones - to search, to shop, and to find businesses. If your business is never seen online then it may as well not exist. Which is why digital marketing is so essential to your business.

Topics: Online Communities, complimentary Marketing Strategy Session, Internet Marketing Strategy, Social Media, Marketing strategy, Content Marketing Strategy, content distribution, distribution channels, trust building, blogging strategy, short form video

 

Every business owner and marketing manager (often the same person!) knows that they need a marketing strategy. But what do they really have?

Simply carrying out assorted marketing tasks or "doing marketing" does not constitute a marketing strategy. Something more is required. And therein lies the problem for so many businesses.

Topics: content marketing, inbound marketing, Marketing Plan, content creation, Marketing strategy, business blog

 

Introducing Marketing Strategist Philip Kotler.

This video was part of a talk given by marketing strategist Professor Philip Kotler to the London Business Forum.

Professor Kotler begins his talk by inventing an acronym on the spot: CCDVTP.

He defines that to mean:

Create, Communicate, Deliver Value to a Target market at a Profit.

• Create value-product or service management
• Communicate value-brand management
• Deliver value-customer management
• Product--how do you brand the product

Now a business is really involved in three businesses--product management, brand management and customer management

• Product management  used to take place all your company. Following engineering an idea, you made things and  asked sales to get rid of them. Product management now takes place inside and outside of the company—open innovation

• Brand management used to mean packaging, name, logo. Now it is what business is all about. Brand management inspires everything you do. This is a new direction.  In the past brand management was just mind share and heart share, now brand management includes spirit share. Businesses show that they are more than just concerned about their own interest. They show that they care for rest of world-corporate responsibility.

• Customer management is not just keeping a data base of customer, even with email and direct mail. No, now getting to know customers and know them beyond data base. Asking customers help to co-create products and advertising.

Professor Kotler ends by saying, "This is a radical change in marketing."
For more information:

• Kolter Marketing Group
• Marketing Management, 13th edition, Philip Kotler, Book Information and Review
• Philip Kotler (Author of Marketing Management)

Topics: content marketing, Advertising and Marketing, Online Communities, Internet Marketing Strategy, Marketing strategy, Content Marketing Strategy, distribution channels, trust building, blogging strategy, digital marketing strategy

For most people, these two terms mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably. We speak of our strategy and describe our plan, and we're talking about one thing. However, it's critically important for a successful digital marketing effort to understand that a strategy is not a plan. So, what's the difference?

 

Topics: digital marketing objectives, inbound marketing, Marketing Plan, Marketing strategy, digital marketing

Every year the gurus, experts, marketing pros and other prognosticators offer up their take on what the trends and changes will be in the digital marketing universe. Here's a high-level round up of some these to help you shift your own tactics accordingly.

 

Topics: inbound marketing strategy, Marketing strategy, Content Marketing Strategy, digital marketing, marketing trends

Okay, so that title might seem a bit esoteric. But, the truth is, marketing at its core is a primal activity. And it really has great deal in common with your grandfather's tackle box.

 

Topics: content marketing, conversion, lead generation strategy, Marketing strategy, AIDA

There is an old saying that goes, "Plan your work and work your plan." That's a truism and a clever phrase. But the deeper truth is that if you don't document your plan, it's not likely going to go well - if at all.

 

Topics: content marketing, inbound marketing, Marketing Plan, Marketing strategy, lead generation

Email is a powerful tool in your inbound marketing efforts. But effective email can be challenging. Here are five email marketing tips to help boost your email results.

We all know what it's like to have our email inboxes buried in unsolicited and (often) unwanted emails. In fact, one study showed that the average person's inbox contains 54% promotional emails. And the most common action taken by the recipients is to delete them.

Topics: email, Email lists, inbound marketing, Marketing strategy, email marketing

If you've come to understand that an effective marketing strategy must have a plan, you're ahead of your competition. But to truly succeed at marketing you really need three plans!

[A previous version of this post was published in June 2016. Some things never go out-of-date!]

Topics: Internet Marketing Strategy, Marketing Plan, affordable internet marketing, Marketing strategy, sample marketing plan