Bandit Signs 101

Marketing Plan + Evaluation = Tools for Success

The saying is “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”  an annual marketing plan and evaluation schedule is one of the most important parts of running a successful business.

Compose a Plan: The first step is to evaluate the previous years budget and marketing activities. Which parts of your strategy were effective in bringing in new business? Did you pay as much attention to certain areas as you could have? Are you ready to try some new ideas and see if you can increase traffic?

This is a “play it safe” way for you to plan funds for your marketing activity. If you have been experiencing steady growth and you would like to get more aggressive, then you can budget a larger amount to invest in your advertising and marketing budget to help continue your growth and increase your market impact.

Evaluation: At intervals through the year, the results of your activity must be examined. Did the expected number of calls come in? Was there any media coverage, and if so how much and where? Be rigorous in the analysis, and be sure to reflect what the results are saying both about the activities, but also about the goals that were set. A weekly column written in the community newspaper may not have generated a hundred sales leads, but it did get a  keynote invitation at the local chamber of commerce, which resulted in a big contract.

Overall, you must include marketing and advertising in your assessment of your companies success, in order to be responsive and proactive about your organizations growth and continued success. Together We Grow has the resources available to help you assess and address your marketing needs with expert help that fits your budget, no matter the size of your company. Contact us today at 602-759-0199 or check out our website www.http://twgphoenix.com and plan for a successful new year!

Marketing in this Economy – Don’t Sit Out, Stand Out!

As our economy slowly recovers, businesses have to find ways to reach out to customers to retain and build business. Creative marketing strategies are the answer. Eye catching signs and collateral materials, e-marketing and social media can all play a role in getting your business out in the eyes of new customers.

Traditional Marketing- Fliers, signs, billboards, and other collateral materials may seem old school, but when attracting foot traffic, building a brand to the next level and cross promoting with other businesses, these tools are still very valuable and can be effective in reaching new markets and customers. Direct mail lists can be purchased or traded with local businesses.  Sandwich boards, billboards and sign spinners can be strategically placed during peak hours in high traffic areas. Collateral fliers, business cards and postcards can be placed with local businesses and distributed at events and passed on by current customers. The key to traditional marketing forms is strategic planning to ensure that your budget is being spent in the right area. You don’t want to spend money on 5,000 fliers, only to find you have no where to distribute them. Also, eye-catching and informative design is essential. Materials need to be pleasing, easy to understand, informative and reflective of the brand and image you want to convey. When used correctly, these “oldies but goodies” will make your business stand out and be noticed, especially now when more people are using alternative forms of marketing their business.

E-marketing – Electronic marketing can take many forms. Most commonly websites, banner ads, email blasts and text blasts can be used to connect with a large number of consumers and are often very affordable.  An online presence is all but mandatory for business in this day and age. Consumers like to research companies and feel informed about the products and people they are spending money with.  A well designed website can make all the difference. Also, an online presence expands your business to the  global marketplace. Depending on the nature of your business, distributing an e-newsletter or email blast announcements on a regular basis can help keep you connected with your customer base and offer exclusive deals and specials. Email is also an easy way for your regulars to spread the word about your business to their networks. Text messaging campaigns have similar benefits and are just one more useful way to keep in contact with existing and potential customers. Blogs can also be a part of effective online presence. Articles can feature interesting and pertinent topics, information about your business and the services and products you offer and a peek behind the scenes. Spending time online is a regular part of the daily routine for many consumers and a blog can make an impression on your customer base and really brand your organization.

Social Networking – Advances in technology have resulted in shorter attention spans, consumers expect everything in their lives to be fast, easily accessible and entertaining. Websites like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Linked-In and Youtube can be essential to branding your business, keep you connected with your customer base and have the potential to expose your business to an exponentially higher percentage of new customers at the click of a mouse. These sites offer business tools to track your popularity, cross promote your page with others that have similar and/or desirable demographics and allow you interact with your customers in a fun and unique way, integrating your business into the lives of your customer.  Announcements, promotional specials and discounts, limited time offers and seasonal sales can all be communicated in real time to thousands of potential customers.  Customers can also post videos, pictures and comments to your page, which allows for a “word of mouth” style seal of approval that can attract new business as well.

Effective marketing is essential in the recovering economy. If the recent economic Depression and Recessions have taught us anything, it is that companies that stop marketing in bad times will disappear with the times. On the other hand, companies that continue marketing and even increase their marketing efforts can emerge stronger than ever.

Make your business stand out, strengthen your brand and make a lasting impression that will attract and retain business and help ensure your thriving success in the new marketplace

Together We Grow has expert marketing services at affordable rates. Visit our website at www.twgphoenix.com for a list of services and rates.

Meet the Founder

Brayand Ponciano wants your business to grow and he knows someone who can help you make it happen. Founder of Together We Grow PHX, a one-stop shop marketing service company, Brayand believes that any business, no matter how small, can take their business to the next level with the right talent and resources. TWG’s innovative avenue of connecting freelance market professionals with business owners makes that talent more accessible.  Known locally as outspoken performance artist BP, Ponciano sees Together We Grow as an opportunity for all involved to succeed.

What is your inspiration for starting Together We Grow? Together We Grow started because I saw a need in the small business world. Companies constantly had to find new suppliers for products and services. Most did not have the time to shop around but needed the products/services for their marketing. I decided to give business owners a one stop shop for all their marketing needs, but at the same time give them some of the lowest prices in PHX without the need to shop around. I wanted to help small businesses grow, not just my clients but also all my providers which are also local small businesses. That way we all Grow Together.

Why they name? I highly believe in the power of networking. I believe that there is enough business for everyone and that working together is the best way to grow. So I decided that the name of the organization had to match our vision.

What are your goals for this first year? 5 years? 10 years? This first year is just about letting people know that we exist. We have been growing just from word of mouth; now that we are going to start marketing on a larger scale I could easily see this becoming a Million dollar company in the next 10 years. This formula once perfected can be duplicated in every major metropolitan area in this country.

Can you name some notable clients, partners? To get that information you have to be a client or partner. I always tell everyone to ask if they need anything but we don’t just throw information around. A lot of my clients would like to keep it that way. I can tell you that most of my clients are real-estate investors and one of our first and biggest clients is one of the biggest gold buyers in town.

What are some lessons you have learned so far? Do not burn any bridges because you never know when you will need to cross that bridge in the future.  If you just say what you do and do what you say you are more than half way there. I was surprised how many people thanked us for actually doing what they paid us for. I know that sounds basic but it is very important. I believe it is better to include everyone in your plan instead of trying to keep it a big secret. I have received allot of help and referrals just by letting people know what I am doing. Finally, I have a saying which I live by “Everybody Eats, Everybody Gets Paid” because at the end of the day Together We Grow.

Together Everyone Achieves More

Teamwork. A time honored concept that can be applied to everything from professional sports to business. But in this economic climate, many businesses have had to trim the size of their “teams” in order stay competive. While the rapid changes can also mean increased opportunity for those still in the marketplace, how do small businesses market effectively, while still maintaining a small staff? Luckily for businesses in the Phoenix area (and beyond) there is an answer to this complex question.
Together We Grow PHX is a new organization that specializes in developing and delivering marketing services including all areas of branding and promotions, social networking, PR and advertising for small businesses in the Phoenix Metro Area. TWG helps businesses grow by providing excellent services beyond expectation tailored to individual needs and budgets. TWG also taps in to the power of business to business networking, offering increased exposure and opening doors to beneficial partnerships. Businesses of all types can take advantage of the professional, yet friendly experience TWG offers. Whether you have an organization, product or an idea you need to market, the right connections will take you to the next level, that is why we believe in working and growing together.

TWG can’t wait to help you expand your business, connect on FB: Together We Grow PHX and Twitter:@GrowTogetherPhx, and by phone at 602-616-8629.