Well, another election has come and gone in the US and no matter which way you voted there are some important marketing lessons to learn.
First, you need to put aside the campaign rhetoric and focus on the strategy and tactics and there are a number of clear winners for both sides.
The Dems and the GOP
On the Republican side. The tactic to put the question of Gay Marriage as a referendum in 11 battleground states was a master stroke. Get people to vote on the small issue and they will follow suit on the larger issues.
It's like selling real estate. Top real estate sales people don't sell houses. They sell a room and the rest of the house goes with it. They look for potential client reactions to a room they see and zoom in on that. If they sell that room to the prospect, then question of getting them to sign a contract on the house becomes as simple as, "Your pen or mine?"
How can we apply this to selling a product or service on the internet?
Look for the most important benefit you offer and build your heading and sales letter around that. Sure there maybe other benefits and you need to highlight those further down the page, via bullets, but focus your sales message on the primary unique selling point.
As a famous direct Marketer, Seth Godin, once said, "One monkey, One banana." Most people have the attention span of an African gnat. Try to get them to focus on more than one thing at a time and you will lose them and the sale.
On the Democrat side, the decision to make the war on a Iraq a central issue was an equally powerful strategy which may explain why 55 million people voted for the Democrats.
It was thought by the pundits that this was playing to the Republican's strength, but this was true only as long as they could make it central to the war on terror.
The moment the Democrats were able to separate the two and make it a referendum on Iraq alone, it became a winner for them, especially in light of the 911 Commission report, which showed clearly, no wmd and no direct ties to Al Queda.
What can we learn from this?
Know your competition, know their strengths and weakness and clearly explain how their weakness are your strengths.
The way you do this is to create a powerful USP (unique selling point). Something about your product or service, or what you do that makes you stand out in the crowd. Something that sets you apart from your competition. Something you do much better than them.
Focus on this single issue and drive it home repeatedly to your website visitors, ezine readers and existing customers.
The other lesson to be learned here. Don't believe everything you read, hear and see. Both elections and the internet are full of people's opinions. Do your homework, look at both sides and above all use your mind and think.
Try to analyze your ideal customer. Picture in your mind who they are, what they are like, what their financial status is, have they bought similar products before. If you don't know who your target market is, how can you target them?
In the late 1990's the principle of the Harvard Business College outlined his belief as to the reason business exists.
The purpose of business is to: KEEP & GROW customers.
We looked at this and thought this definition was too narrow. We felt that in order to keep and grow customers, you first had to find them so we added the word find to the above formula....
The purpose of business is to: FIND, KEEP & GROW customers.
But this still wasn't enough because what if the customer was wrong for your business, that is, they couldn't afford your services or product?
So we added, the right kind of customers, and we ended up with a new formula to work with.
The purpose of business is to: FIND, KEEP & GROW the RIGHT KIND of customers, everything else is rubbish.
If you market or sell anything on the internet, either as a business owner or a reseller, you are in business for yourself and you MUST think of it as a business. Do your homework and your research. It pays off in ways you only dream of right now.
About The Author
For further information mailto: jpethanks@jpeads.com
Subscribe to the WebPro Times jpethanks@jpeads.com
Where Professional marketers meet weekly.
Phil Basten and Jane Mark run a well known online ad agency jpethanks@jpeads.com - They have been helping people succeed on the net for more than 8 years.
Lincoln Town Car rentals Milwaukee .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAs pictures and videos surface showing young American soldiers humiliating... Read More
The Second World War was the continuation of World War... Read More
I applaud Monsanto for their R and D. I would... Read More
In every national budget, there is a part called "Public... Read More
Recently scientists have been watching the exponential growth of marine... Read More
It looks overall like the liberals are advocating for no... Read More
I had the benefit of getting an interview with Mr.... Read More
Those who are above the law or act as such... Read More
Many of those who wish to fight for our country... Read More
We have brain drain issues in Silicon Valley, we have... Read More
Currently the United States has weapons, which can shoot around... Read More
OH MAN!Here we go again. I guess now the "proof... Read More
Recently in Professional Builder a cover article discussed how the... Read More
In order to win the presidency in America, candidates must... Read More
Here is an interesting thought; Corn to make Plastic An... Read More
Dust from Deserts and Particulate ControlThe greatest contributor to particulate... Read More
Their arrival portends rising local prices and a culture shock.... Read More
Are the junior attorneys in the Attorney General's office leaving... Read More
Well we have certainly been reading a lot about prison... Read More
When we go through periods of droughts we also have... Read More
As more and more cities and states set up websites... Read More
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) is interested in the... Read More
Recently the CIA staged a practice simulation of a cyber... Read More
The North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented on January... Read More
I would like to discuss the blocked persons list of... Read More
travel from Midway Detroit ..This, of course, is a political decision. There is no... Read More
Entrepreneurs can clean up the environment if we would let... Read More
The head of the Club of Rome has said that... Read More
Do you really want to get ahead in your life?... Read More
Many have lost faith in the government and are completely... Read More
The shouting is over and directions for the next four... Read More
There is a lot of debate about who made the... Read More
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) estimated that there were... Read More
Unions are angry at the high salary of the executives... Read More
Lecture given at the Netherlands Economic Institute (NEI) on 18/4/2001Human... Read More
Recently a friend insisted that I read a book by... Read More
This is the fourth and final article in a series... Read More
The recent Jakarta summit of Asia and Africa brought remembrance... Read More
As pictures and videos surface showing young American soldiers humiliating... Read More
The end of another election once again brings into focus... Read More
We are currently seeing a build up in China of... Read More
The FTC franchising division purports their law enforcement experience in... Read More
It is widely known in the Homosexual Male Populations that... Read More
Are you happy with all this so-called security after 9-11?... Read More
So you are ready to run for public office are... Read More
It looks overall like the liberals are advocating for no... Read More
We have seen an increase in Snowbirds from Northern States... Read More
Question: Dr. Vaknin ? is it true that you are... Read More
Elliot Spitzer, recently said he wanted to drive a stake... Read More
There is a connection between economic growth and unemployment. There... Read More
Political |