Archive for January, 2012

Brand Early to Build Marketing Success

Posted on: January 17th, 2012 by designdesign

As a new business, you may think that you can put your brand on the back burner. You’re being strategic with every dollar, making big decisions and looking with a magnifying glass before you leap…

But your brand is important and defining your image with professionals early will save you money in the long run. The budget required to recover is much greater than doing it right the first time. You wouldn’t show up to a prospective client in dirty clothes, with the intention of dressing professionally after they hire you to do the work. Shortcuts will almost always end up costing more in the end.

Decide what audiences you want to attract; what products or services you want to offer to them and how you stack up against your competition. A professional design and marketing firm will utilize this information to define a mark, font, colors and a formation that connects effectively with your targets the first time, giving you the ability in the future, to build other useful marketing tools on a strong foundation.

~ Erika

Recent MEDdesign Blog Posts

Posted on: January 9th, 2012 by designdesign

We contributed to the MEDdesign Blog: “Which comes first, the Chicken or the Egg?” Check it out today! You need to register to see the blog post, but it is free to join!

http://www.medicaldevicesummit.com/Main/Blogs/126.aspx

We also contributed “Product Development Process Safeguards.”

http://www.medicaldevicesummit.com/Main/Blogs/152.aspx

The Marketing Mix

Posted on: January 3rd, 2012 by designdesign

Abide by the 4 P’s of marketing to ensure you are putting the right product (service) in the right place (market) at the right price at the right time.

  1. Product (Service)
  2. Price
  3. Place
  4. Promotion

Although some marketing decisions may come naturally, other decisions require a reliable resource to define consistent branding and develop a successful campaign. Each component of the marketing mix is equally as important as the next.  Consider these questions pertaining to the 4 P’s before establishing your next campaign.

Product:

  • What do your customers want?
  • What are the features of your product that customers find desirable?
  • How will the product/service be used?
  • What does the product look like? Size, shape, color, etc.
  • How will the product be branded? Campaign color scheme, font, overall feel/style, etc.
  • How will your product differ from competition?

Place:

  • Where will customers look for your product?
  • Where do customers look for competitor’s product?
  • How will your product get the most exposure/be the most accessible?
    • In a retail store vs. e-commerce
    • Convenience store vs. destination
    • Strip mall vs. stand-alone store front
    • What distribution channels will you utilize?

Price:

  • What is the perceived value of the product?
  • Has competition established price points?
  • How sensitive is your target market to a slight increase/decrease in price?

Promotion:

  • How to reach your defined target market?
  • Where will your promotional campaigns receive the most exposure to the intended market?
  • Timing – when is the best time to reach your target market?
  • How can your campaign stand out from competition?

There are many other questions and important factors to consider in developing a well-rounded marketing campaign.  Consulting a marketing firm can help to ensure an efficient and effective use of your marketing budget.