Marketing 1...2...Punch!

What do you think of when you hear the word 'marketing'? Do you think that maybe it's something that big box companies have the budget to do, but you don't? Or maybe you think you're doing it because you have a twitter account or are on facebook. Or maybe you think you don't have to do it because you're tweeting or facebooking.

Well you'd be right and wrong if you thought this, and as an nearly graduated(4 classes left)Marketing major :) I'm gonna tell you why.

First let's make it clear that if you are in any type of business, that you should have a strategy for marketing. It's not optional it's mandatory, and if you don't have the '1...2 punch' as I like to

call it your level of success may not reach its full potential.

What the 1...2 punch does is quite simple. It couples old-fashioned human connection with the

blazing technology of web 2.0. It's a false understanding to believe that just diving head first into social media and marketing will bring you ultimate success. You still need to be that face behind your product, service or company. Your pet parents want to trust you and get to know you, and what your motives and mission is. But they'll never know if you're just a twitter account or a facebook fan page.

So what I'd like to start seeing more of is, the integration of viral video marketing, social media and engaging conversation with your audience. Find out what you can give them that no one else is or is willing to give. The idea of under-promise and over-deliver holds true here. It's the connection that you build that will foster lasting relationships and naturally more customers for you. Good word spreads fast and if you have the media and outlets in place this occurs naturally, and this is good news for you.

So what do you do if you do not have any of the 1...2 punch platform in place. Well let's talk about it briefly:

1) Make sure you know who your customers are. Where will they find you best? Online, offline, or at the dog park. :)

2) What's the best way to influence them? Through community efforts, giveaways (always a winner), contests, co-ops, video showcases. Find out what makes them wanna say: 'hey that looks neat..I wanna buy that, or check that out'. Ok maybe not in those words but you get the idea.

3)Act on what you find with a step by step plan, and don't just give it 1..2 try...you gotta give it a 1...2 punch. You cannot expect results after just one campaign..ie 1 video, a few blog posts, a contest or two, or a giveaway.

If you take a peek into the success of some of pet industry big hitters, they've all got a thing or two in common. They're constantly plugging away at keeping their audience engaged, interested, informed and most importantly wanting more!

So now you've got the inside know how! Go make it happen!!

Got any questions I'm here to help...it's what I do!