Successfully Implement Your Business Marketing Strategy in 3 Steps

Waseem Saddique Marketing has learnt that a number of marketing strategies are failing as a result of poor planning. In a recent report issued by ‘Lionbridge’, 36% of business leaders admitted to adopting a ‘scatter-gun’ approach when it came to marketing strategy. This approach has seen an increase in the number of online marketing campaigns doomed to fail before they even begin.

In a bid to combat this trend, Waseem Saddique Marketing provides a few simple tips for implementing a successful marketing plan.

Waseem Saddique states: “The marketing plan is just as important as the marketing strategy itself. After all, the plan lays the foundation for an entire marketing campaign. If the foundation is not structured correctly, the strategy itself runs the risk of failing.”

Marketing commentators make the point that business leaders need to possess the ability to step back and evaluate the progress of a marketing campaign to ensure that the initial plan is being adhered to and that the company is heading in the right direction.

So what are the tactics for keeping your marketing strategy on track?

Step 1 – Evaluate and Monitor: Waseem Saddique comments: “This cannot be emphasised enough, the moment a business loses sight of the original marketing plan is the moment that strategies go astray.”

Keeping track of articles, social media, videos, blogs and adverts is a necessity and can be achieved through ‘Google Analytics’ and other such resources. Adopting this approach allows business leaders the freedom to evaluate which strategies are working and worth pursuing and which marketing tactics are worth eliminating.

Step 2 – Seek feedback: Request regular feedback and testimonials from clients as this will give your business a key insight into whether your marketing tactics are having the desired effect. Statistics from analytical tools only provide a partial assessment of the effectiveness of a marketing campaign. However, consumers will provide an honest evaluation of your campaign whether good or bad.

After all, it’s consumers that your business is reaching out to and they’re the people that truly determine whether your marketing approach is doing the job it’s supposed to be doing.

Step 3 - Always be planning: Planning doesn’t end at the beginning, marketing plans have to grow in order to incorporate new ideas and fresh tactics. Waseem Saddique states: “A marketing strategy is something more than a ‘once a year’ phase. Marketing campaigns will take different courses throughout the year, adapting for seasonal promotions and special offers etc…”

It’s important to plan constantly, but without navigating away from the roots of the initial marketing plan. A solid foundation allows business leaders to have a freedom and flexibility, which enables them to adjust a marketing strategy depending on trends.

The best marketing campaigns are ones that are executed on the foundation of a solid plan, ensuring greater longevity and overall success. Did you know? The CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) surveyed 40 businesses in 2012 as to whether their marketing plan had contributed to the overall success of an online marketing campaign. 79% of respondents implied that the plan was key to the campaign.   

Online Video Marketing a ‘Must-Have’ Marketing Strategy

Did you know? 85% of the UK’s internet users viewed online video content in March 2013 alone.

As one of the hottest trends to hit the internet in recent years, online video marketing is considered a ‘must-have’ tool in order to take your business to new heights. A recent ‘Infographic’ released by ‘Brainshark Incorporated’ quantifies, the relentless surge in popularity of online video marketing.

Waseem Saddique comments: “Online Video Marketing offers a unique edge to marketing a business. Many business owners say that an online marketing video allows them to ‘personify’ their business affectively humanising their company enabling them to reach potential consumers in a much more interactive and personal way.”

Online Video Marketing has not remained static, it’s not just a big hit now, it continues to thrive and grow to even higher heights. Towards the latter stages of 2012, ‘Social Media Examiner’ revealed that many marketers planned to increase their marketing efforts through the use of online video, setting aside investment funds to launch numerous online video campaigns during 2013.

According to a report released by the Content Marketing Institute (CMI), the result of increased investment into video marketing campaigns has led to a 12% increase in online video usage across B2B marketers at the start of 2013.

Waseem Saddique states: “If you’re business is considering using Online Video Marketing, the time for consideration is over, it’s time for action. Video marketing is trending phenomenally and shows no signs of slowing down.

Some key facts concerning Online Video Marketing:

#1 – 46% of UK consumers state that they would be more likely to source information about a product or service after viewing it on an online video.

#2 – Online Video Marketing is now recognised as the sixth most common content marketing strategy, with 70% of B2B and B2C marketers incorporating some form of video marketing into their overall marketing strategy.

3# - Online video database, YouTube, averages approximately 4 billion hits per day, with 61% of B2B and B2C marketers utilising YouTube to broaden the reach of their message and brand.

#4 - It’s estimated that mobile viewers will watch videos that are three times the length than those featured on PCs and laptops with predictions that the number of mobile viewers will reach 108 million by the end of 2013.

#5 – According to marketing experts, by 2014, online video could account for 50% of all internet traffic.

Waseem Saddique concludes: “Businesses should sit up and take notice of these statistics as online video will help them to reach a wider audience and increase marketing impact. Video offers longevity and holds the attention of consumers effectively.”

Founded in 2007, Waseem Saddique Marketing Services has consistently provided small to medium enterprises, as well as larger corporate firms, with a range of digital marketing & online solutions.

How to build an ‘App’ for your Business – A guide from Waseem Saddique Marketing Services

It’s estimated that there are 6 million apps in circulation (source: esave.com) across all platforms including: the iPhone app store, the Android Market, the Windows Phone market place, the Blackberry and many more.

Waseem Saddique comments: “The ‘app’ market is competitive, as businesses jostle to attract consumer attention. Therefore, if an app would be suitable for aiding business growth, it’s certainly worth considering the development of an ‘app’ when implementing an online marketing strategy.”

Statistics show that quality ‘apps’ tend to go viral very quickly and are a sure fire way to increase the prominence of an online marketing campaign and increase the exposure of a business. ‘Apps’ have become a particularly favoured marketing tool among SME’s as they look to raise the profile of their businesses.

Waseem Saddique states: “Whilst there are a number of DIY ‘app’ development tools available, it is recommended that you consult a specialist ‘app’ developer, especially if you’re technological knowledge is basic at best. There’s no shame in calling in a professional, after all it’s best to develop an ‘app’ that is effective and less likely to encounter functionality issues.”

What’s the benefit of an ‘app’?

One of the key benefits that ‘apps’ offer is versatility as they can be embedded almost anywhere, whether it is on a Facebook page, on a mobile or smartphone or on a website.

Other benefits include:

#1 – A cost effective approach to online marketing.

#2 – Rapid viral exposure.

#3 – ‘Apps’ are interactive, encouraging consumers to connect with your business, whether        consciously, or subconsciously.

#4 – They offer a revenue stream – ‘Apps’ can be sold on a number of ‘app’ markets.

#5 – They can constantly be refined to keep up with consumer trends.

What are my options for developing an ‘app’? 

Do-it-yourself – Whilst consulting with a developer is recommended, if your budget is tight there are a number of DIY ‘app’ development tools available. One particular DIY tool that is proving popular is Google’s App Inventor. ‘App’ inventor does not require the involvement of a developer and allows you to create Android compatible ‘apps’ that utilise smartphone features such as, GPS and SMS.

Should you wish to capture the iPhone market the ‘AppMakr’ tool is a website-based iPhone ‘app’ creator.

A number of DIY tools also exist for creating microsites, Facebook applications, blog ‘apps’ and much more.

Waseem Saddique states: “It’s imperative, that when developing an ‘app’ of your own, without professional assistance, that the concept and strategy are right from the word go, otherwise the development could become a time-consuming and costly process.”

Hire a freelancer – Freelance websites are a great way to source ‘app’ developers, some of the top sites include peopleperhour.com, odesk.com and freelancer.com

There is a risk element to hiring the services of a freelancer, but it is also a cost effective method compared to hiring a development agency.

The key element of hiring a freelancer is to do your research and when selecting a developer to work with, make sure everything is put in black and white by way of a contract. That way there can be no misinterpretations of what is expected from both parties during the ‘app’ project.

Hire an agency – For the more affluent business owner, with a more significant budget, hiring an ‘app’ development agency is perhaps the best option. If your ‘app’ is likely to play a big part in your marketing strategy, there is no substitute for ensuring that you ‘app’ is developed to the highest standard.

Waseem Saddique comments: “A well-developed ‘app’ can be a ‘game changer’ when jostling for consumer attention. Functionality is of the utmost importance and research conducted by esave.com shows that 47% of consumers will cease to use an ‘app’ if it’s slow and too complex to use.”

A highly recommended ‘app’ development agency (as supplied by masahable.com) is TheyMakeApps.com who have the capability to develop ‘apps’ for all platforms, particularly for online marketing campaigns.

For an all-in-one solution, employ in-house developers

Hiring an in-house developer(s) offers a solution that combines all three of the above. If online marketing and mobile marketing are the essential foundation for the success of your business then, purely for the long-term benefits, employing in-house staff is the most effective solution. 

Over a period of time, in-house staff will have a solid grasp of your ‘app’ requirements and can constantly refine and develop applications in order to keep up with customer trends and tastes. In terms of longevity and establishing an ‘app’ brand having developers that know your business inside out will ultimately prove pivotal.

Founded in 2007, Waseem Saddique Marketing Services has consistently provided small to medium enterprises, as well as larger corporate firms, with a range of digital marketing & online solutions. To learn more visit www.waseemsaddique.blogspot.com

‘Be Smart & Take Your Tablets’: Waseem Saddique Marketing Services Explores the Impact of Smartphones and Tablets on Mobile Marketing

Attention all businesses, did you know? Owners of both a Smartphone and a Tablet spend more time and money on mobile shopping. Waseem Saddique comments: “According to research conducted by PayPal, there exists, an incredible opportunity for businesses to market themselves on a global scale by implementing Mobile Marketing strategies.”

The recent findings of the PayPal survey highlighted that tablet ownership increases the frequency of mobile shopping, improving the buying experience and leads to consumers, who own both devices, using smartphones more frequently.

As a result businesses have begun to target mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, to launch new and innovative mobile marketing campaigns. Mobile ‘app’ development has surged in the last 12 months as businesses look to expand the reach of their marketing efforts.

What the figures say…

•       More than 40% of people who own both a Smartphone and a Tablet made more than 20 purchases via a mobile device over the past 12 months
•       Two-thirds of people that possess both a Smartphone and a Tablet revealed that their overall spending had increased as a result of their mobile purchasing habits
•       ‘Dual owners’ are also 63% more likely to make a mobile purchase as opposed to 29% of people who own a Smartphone only

The Impact

Waseem Saddique comments: “Businesses that do not have a mobile marketing campaign need to seriously consider revising their marketing strategy. Businesses are starting to take advantage of this growing trend and are adapting mobile websites and apps for devices such as Smartphones and Tablets.”

Mobile marketing has become a necessity for businesses in order to tap into a massive consumer audience and to stay in touch or exceed rivals. Mobile marketing has seen a phenomenal increase with the emergence of mobile devices. After all, mobile devices allow people to access information on the go; therefore a mobile marketing campaign is a must for any business.

The revolution of mobile shopping is only set to grow and with Christmas 2012 on the horizon, experts are predicting a surge in the volume of people purchasing goods via mobile devices. This provides a great opportunity for businesses to engage and interact with customers instantly.

The impact of mobile devices on mobile marketing has been glaringly apparent. Mobile devices allow businesses to reach consumers via websites, social media (such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube), mobile applications and a whole host of other platforms.

Waseem Saddique explains: "In short, mobile marketing has gone global; there is virtually nowhere that a business is unable to reach a consumer, as the majority of the world now owns a mobile device. From a business point of view this is great news, because hypothetically speaking, businesses are able to put a marketing mobile campaign in the ‘pocket of the consumer’ or place it in the ‘palm of the consumer’s hand'."

The 4G revolution: Birmingham based, Waseem Saddique Marketing Services, welcomes 4G technology.

With much of the world’s data going mobile, businesses across the globe are adapting their online marketing campaigns for mobile technology such as smartphones and tablets. 

Companies that have not adapted their internet marketing strategies for the mobile market are being urged to ‘get on board’. In a bid to cope with more data going mobile, 4G technology has recently been launched to process all data at much quicker speeds.

Waseem Saddique comments: “If businesses do not respond to the rise in mobile technology usage and adapt online marketing campaigns accordingly, a number of companies will fast go out of business.”

There are a number of factors behind the need for 4G technology, most important of which is to manage the massive rise in the use of mobile data. As consumers frequently access social media sites, personal e-mail accounts and mobile applications whilst on the go, 4G technology has been launched to allow consumers to access data on a much quicker scale.

Waseem Saddique states: “4G technology is set to revolutionise the speed at which consumers can access information whilst on the move. Therefore, business competitiveness to get their brand in front of potential clients will intensify. The only way this can be done is to develop innovative online marketing strategies that can be adapted for use with mobile technology.”

Predominantly, social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, are the most frequently accessed applications via mobile gadgets. 4G technology means mobile gadget users can access such applications much more swiftly when compared with 3G technology.

According to the Chetan report, the mobile market is set to generate $1.5 trillion in revenue over the next 12 months, thanks to the introduction of 4G technology. From a business perspective, worldwide figures for mobile gadget owners are set to surge; therefore there has never been a better time for business owners to develop internet marketing strategies adapted for mobile technology.

Despite early ‘teething’ problems, 4G technology will change the face of the mobile market and in order for businesses to reap the benefits, they need to adapt to consumer needs and modify online marketing strategies to embrace the growing domination of mobile devices.

In a bid to assist clients with adjusting online marketing campaigns for mobile devices, Waseem Saddique Marketing Services offers comprehensive advice and guidance.

Mr Saddique concludes: “4G technology represents a new era for businesses and alongside welcoming the new technology, Waseem Saddique Marketing Services aims to assist clients in maximising the potential of what 4G has to offer.”

Promote your business with effective article marketing

Waseem Saddique discusses the value of effective article marketing.

When used correctly, articles can add real value to any marketing campaign. Communicating the unique selling points of a business, via article marketing, has proven to be a tried and tested method that has stood the test of time and is still widely used to generate leads and promote businesses.

Such is the value of article marketing that companies are making massive use of article submission sites and witnessing tremendous results in terms of the returns they are seeing in respect of lead generation and lead quality.

Waseem Saddique offers six article marketing strategies that offer fantastic potential for 

growing your business:

1. Utilise article submission services – In order to do this, manual submission is perhaps the most popular technique. The majority of internet marketing specialists would advise that this is cost effective and swift. Most article submission sites are free to join and you stay in complete control as you can submit at a time that suits you and you can write your own articles.

2. Mass submission of articles – This is also a popular technique amongst businesses. With this scenario, businesses tend to write one article and produce several versions of the same article (known as spun articles). However, this is probably better used when employing a service to distribute articles on your behalf.

3. Minimalist submission – Very few businesses submit articles to only 1-2 directories, however, those that do, tend to benefit as they are very selective as to which article submission sites they choose to use. Selective article marketing saves time and money and if done correctly can really drive traffic to your website.

4. Submission to the top ten article sites – Most marketing gurus would recommend this option as it offers a middle ground to mass submission and minimalist submission. It is merely a case of selecting the best article submission sites based on page rankings and distributing your articles to those sites.

5. Produce more articles and generate more sales leads – If you are a product selling company, it is worth producing 20 or so articles per day and distributing them to the best article directories on the market. By doing this, not only are you hitting a mass market, but by using the best directories the ‘quality’ of your leads will greatly improve. After all it’s easy to produce a lot of articles and distribute them to thousands of directories. This will always produce sales leads, but quality will always count over quantity.

6. Maximum return – In order to guarantee the maximum return from your articles, do something unique. Use them to evaluate the success of your marketing campaign as article marketing can help to inspire other ideas such as the creation of ebooks or generating marketing videos. With article marketing techniques the possibilities are endless.