We are all gearing up for the holiday season and planning cozy winter vacations with loved ones. Although our thoughts are focused on pumpkin spice lattes, we need to remember that our marketing campaigns should never take a holiday break.
Proper marketing campaigns take time to plan and the lack of planning is usually why studios fail with their marketing. A successful marketing campaign isn’t possible if you’ve procrastinated. By the time you’ve scrambled to come up with a strategy you’ve probably missed your opportunity to implement anything. Sound familiar? If, so let’s take control by using the following steps.
Lets start by beginning no later than 8 weeks before the start of your campaign. Ask yourself these following questions:
- What is the goal of your campaign? What would you like to accomplish? Is it to generate more sessions? Generate awareness?
- Are we targeting new clients or existing clients?
- What’s your budget?
- What’s the potential? How many names? How well known are you and how strong is the competition?
- Which media will you use? Direct mail, social media, community displays, networking with other businesses, referrals, e-mail blasts, ect?
- Is this the right time? (Fish when the fish are hungry)
- Frequency. How many times do people need to be exposed to your message before they take action?
- Check with your overall picture. Budget for year round and look at your long term marketing goals.
Once you have completed this exercise, you can begin implementing your strategy.
Helpful Hint – In the age of technology, computers and other helpful electronic apps, I still hear having an oversized wall calendar to post not only your campaign strategies but reminders of when you need to start planning them is a big help.
Thanks for Reading,
Mark Weber
