Free Marketing Tips

If you're looking for ways to improve your marketing and communications efforts, check out our "how to" guides, white papers and general information articles.  Agency MABU continues to add to this resource library on a continuous and ongoing basis.  Click on the following drop down menu to select from a variety of topics.

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Lessons Learned By a Seasoned Marketing Professional

Here are a handful of lessons learned by Mike Mabin, Agency MABU President, after working over 30 years in the profession.

• Develop a marketing plan and set a budget.  You’ll get better results, save lots of money, and be among a very small percentage of people who actually take time to organize the marketing efforts.

• Define your target audiences.  This makes it much easier to select the right methods and mediums to reach them.

• Determine what you want to accomplish with your marketing activities.  This makes it much easier to measure the outcomes along the way.

• Marketers spend far too much time “telling” their story and far too little time “listening” to their customers or stakeholders.

• It’s not the medium that matters; it’s the message that really counts.  For example, you should spend less time trying to decide if TV is better than radio, and more time trying to find out what information your stakeholders or customers actually want/need.

• There’s no such thing as a “great deal” on advertising.  Although the price might be right, the ads probably won’t be very effective at reaching your target audiences in a cost-effective manner.

• Great marketing involves a process, not a project.  Building a brand that generates customer loyalty and new business happens over time and can’t be measured based on an individual campaign or project.  There are too many variables that contribute to success or failure in marketing.

• Organizations are much like people – they have unique personalities, traits and characteristics.  Effective marketing captures and communicates these meaningful points of difference in an honest and believable way.

• In-house staff can handle the majority of marketing functions; however, outside consultants add value by providing fresh perspectives and specialized services.

• The best approach to marketing is to develop a distinct brand identity, and carry it through all mediums and methods in an integrated fashion.

• Mediums and methods are continually changing; therefore, you need to evolve with the times or be left behind.  However, common sense and marketing basics remain constant.  With this in mind, always ask yourself “what are we trying to accomplish,” and “will this new approach really work?”

To further explore these and other marketing concepts, feel free to attend one of our upcoming “Marketing with MABU” luncheons.

Marketing with MABU – Monthly Luncheon/Webinar Series

Join Mike Mabin and other MABU associates for an informal discussion on marketing strategies, trends and ideas.  The sessions are held the second Wednesday of each month over the Noon hour. Current and prospective clients are welcome at attend at no cost.  Attend one or more sessions, whatever fits your schedule.  MABU will even provide a complimentary box lunch and refreshments for those who attend in person.  The sessions will also be available via webinar.

 Wednesday, April 8 – Building a marketing plan
 Wednesday, May 13 – Optimizing your website
 Wednesday, June 10 – Maximizing your brand

Pre-registration is required.  Participation is limited.  Call 250-0728 to RSVP for in-person or online participation.