I love the fresh-scrubbed feel of a new year. It's a great time to set goals for myself and my company, which always fires me up and inspires me to charge ahead.
I do more looking forward this time of year than looking back, but it is important to pause and take stock of where I've been. It helps me avoid making the same mistakes twice, and reminds me of things we did that worked well, so that we can try to repeat them.
To that end, here are my top four marketing must-do's in 2014.
1. Define your marketing goals.
With clearly defined goals, you have something to aim for and a way to measure your progress (or lack thereof). Throughout the year, I can easily analyze the numbers and see whether I'm on track to meet my goals; if I'm not, I know I need to look for any problems that need to be addressed.
Some marketing goal ideas include how many followers or connections you'll gain on your social media networks, and how many new subscribers you'll sign up for newsletters. Sales may be a number you take into account, but it shouldn't be a goal for your marketing efforts. Sales are the result of a comprehensive strategy of which marketing is just one component.
2. Develop and build your own marketing database
Building a database with email addresses and relevant information about former, current and prospective clients is absolutely essential. It allows you to communicate with them, reminding past customers of all you have to offer; strengthening the confidence of current clients; and encouraging prospective clients to move toward a sale.
If you're just getting started, create a database of all the people you know who might be interested in hearing from you: friends, family members, former business associates – everyone. Your communications should not be sales pitches; rather, offer valuable, helpful information relevant to your field.
Keep your database growing by offering content on your website that includes a "call to action" – an invitation for visitors to share their contact information in exchange for something that benefits them. That might include free reports available as downloads, how-to videos or subscriptions to your blog posts. If you're an author, you can provide a free chapter or two of your book.
3. Maintain your marketing budget even when sales slump.
