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In This Issue:
- Note from Bobette Kyle
- Incorporating Customer Interaction Into the Marketing Plan
- Business and Marketing Products
- Dig a Deeper Well...How to Tap the Power of Your Brand Image
- Administrative Notes
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Note From the Publisher, Bobette Kyle
Archives: http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/NewsletterArchives.htm

Hello Folks -

Here's a stumper: Why would a marketing executive be fired for performance when his brand’s year-to-date sales and profits are double last year’s? It sounds like he should be getting a raise, doesn't it? Not necessarily.

It turns out the guy marketed cathode ray tubes for television sets. Sales doubled because his competitors were getting out of cathode ray tubes and his was the only brand left. Others recognized what he did not: In the very near future -- as all broadcast entertainment device manufacturers switched technologies -- the "cathode ray" category would be severely crippled. Our marketing executive had not recognized this critical industry trend, so his brand’s sales would plummet as the industry advanced.

The lesson here is two-fold:

(1) Stay atop the latest industry trends so your products don't become obsolete (100% of nothing is still nothing).

(2) Think in terms of why you do what you do, not what products you offer. If our marketing guy had thought about the why of his brand (to deliver entertainment technology), rather than the what (cathode ray tubes for televisions), he would still have a job.

Today's guest article by Phil Davis, "Dig a Deeper Well...How to Tap the Power of Your Brand Image," addresses the second lesson. Phil explains how your strength and potential comes more from why and who you are, not what you do. He also gives a couple examples of the "why" approach.

The feature article -- my "Incorporating Customer Interaction Into the Marketing Plan" -- addresses online trends and how that is changing consumers’ behaviors and expectations.

As you update your marketing plans for 2007 (You are doing that now, right!? It's time.), think about how the lessons in these two articles apply to your own business. When you think about why you are in business, what new products/services does that inspire? When you look at the trends that affect your customers’ behaviors, how does that change your choice of -- or how you go about executing -- marketing programs?

Email Marketing

Even when trends change, many of your customers' preferences may not. Such is the case with email. Technology has advanced, there are more interactive options and consumers have more choices for receiving information (through RSS feeds, blogs, etc.). Yet, many prefer to receive information or communicate through email, so it remains popular.

For this reason, there is still a place in the marketing plan for email-driven communication. If you've been thinking about changing email service providers for your newsletter or other opt-in email list -- or including other email-based marketing in your plan -- try Constant Contact's 60-day trial. See the orange ad below for details or -- if you are reading this note in an email -- please switch to the Web version and take a look: http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/NewsletArch/newsletter11_20_06.htm

Enjoy!

Bobette Kyle

60 Day Free Trial
Constant Contact Email Service (below):

 

   

 

 

Incorporating Customer Interaction Into the Marketing Plan
by Bobette Kyle
http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/marketing_management/interaction.htm

Today more than ever the Internet is part of mainstream culture. Not only are consumers visiting, but they are increasingly interactive -- uploading videos; voting; sharing opinions, ranting and raving; creating multi-media experiences; and researching products and services online. Today’s customers are willing and able to become involved with creating and marketing the products they consume. For marketers and small business owners, this fundamental shift in consumer behavior must be recognized in the marketing plan.
 

Business and Marketing Planning Products
Following the most profitable strategies means keeping your business plan and marketing plan up-to-date. Tools to help the process go smoother include:

- Software
* Marketing Plan Pro: $179 http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/software
* Business Plan Pro: $99.95 - $199.95 http://www.sample-plans.com/bp

- Business Planning Tools
Choose from 1,746 industry-specific model plans, plus priceless free gifts: $69.95
http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/bplan/business-plans

- Articles
* Marketing plan articles: http://www.MarketingPlanSearch.com
* Business plan articles: http://www.BusinessPlanArticles.com
 

Dig a Deeper Well...How to Tap the Power of Your Brand Image
by Phil Davis
http://www.websitemarketingplan.com/small_business/brand.htm

Many business owners sincerely believe they understand their company brand. They can describe it, quantify it and explain its place in the market. They can recount corporate history and accomplishments and detail future plans and goals. These are all necessary items for communicating a company's brand message, but they are also the most superficial ones. These descriptive attributes tell us about what the business does, but not who the company is. The true power of a brand does not come from the what, where, when and how. It comes from the "who" and "why."
 

Administrative Notes

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