So – you’ve got a fantastic marketing strategy. That’s great! You may well be reaching the people you want to reach. You may also be breaking ahead of the competition when it comes to customer engagement. Whether you’ve done this through snappy advertising or big social media campaigns, that’s half of the battle over with.
However, it’s maybe not even half of the battle. I say this because, at the end of the day, if you don’t have a good product to go alongside your marketing campaigns, you may as well pack up and go home. Don’t dismiss this as harsh until you’ve read a little further.
Putting Yourself in Your Customer’s Shoes
When it comes to true business success, you’re going to need to always think beyond your marketing strategy. Yes, advertising will pull in interest and engagement over time.
But what is it about a product that actually appeals to your customers in the long term? You need to put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Think about what you’d look for as a customer.
If you were enticed by a commercial only to find that the products being offered were only half as good as those available elsewhere, you’d be feeling ripped off.
Therefore, your focus always needs to be on the product itself. While marketing will get the word out about your brand and your line, you’re going to need to put a little more effort into the services you actively provide to your public.
Innovate and Refine
Look at all of the most successful businesses and brands across history. They’ve made their marks largely by spotting niches in their markets.
Sure, they’ve led with flashy, intriguing campaigns along the way. But they’ve never let up when it comes to innovation and quality of a product.
Think about some of the biggest players right now. Apple, Samsung, Sony. These are all technology giants, but the message remains the same. They are all innovators, focusing on product quality first, and marketing second.
You’re going to need to listen to your marketplace. Word of mouth is absolutely massive nowadays. People are leaving reviews on Facebook, Google, Amazon and more besides.
If you produce a solid product or an innovative product, you are going to reap the dividends in online acclaim. Focus solely on marketing and throw out uninspiring products, and you’ll sink within a year.
Focus on Your Customers
The bottom line for this inconvenient truth is you should be listening to your customers. You should spend more time focusing on your product, your services, and your relationship with your customers. Always strive to be better. Marketing does matter, of course, but it shouldn’t be the full focus of your corporate strategy.