The 7 Steps to Marketing Success - Maximise Your Existing Customers 

Written by Jane Gregory

Marketing can feel overwhelming when you’re starting out in business, or are a small business owner, because it’s just one of so many hats you have to wear.

Even when you find the time to think about your marketing it can be really tough to know where to start. Should you get active on social media? Spend time working on your brand? Or how about a website or paid advertising? SEO or influencers? Or should you look at ebay, Amazon or ETSY? Write a blog or post on Linkedin? Arrrgh!

With so much to think about it’s no wonder that many businesses struggle to market effectively and consistently, and that’s why we’ve put together this mini series to hopefully give you a clear track to run on. Over the next few weeks we’ll be looking at the following 7 Steps to Marketing Success:

1). Know your target market

2). Create a strong brand that will appeal to them

3). Develop powerful key messages, copy and images

4). Develop a strategic marketing plan

5). Implement your plan

6). Maximise your existing customers

7). Staying competitive

Step 6: Maximise Your Existing Customers 

Here’s some sobering stats for you:

Acquiring a new customer costs 5 to 10 times more than selling to an existing one.

Loyal customers spend around 67% more on average per order than does a new customer

And yet I see far too many businesses that go to huge efforts to get new customers, but then neglect the ones they already have. By neglect I don’t mean they give them a poor service,  or shoddy goods, but rather that they don’t have a strategy to implement the 3 steps to maximising their existing customers, which are:

Having a well-thought-out plan for how to stay in contact with them and letting them know they’re valued (without being in their face and annoying. You know what I mean, companies that ask for feedback every time you blink)

Having a well-thought-out strategy for trying to find out how much of your customers’ potential business you’ve cornered, and how you might get some more (more applicable to B2B than B2C)

Having a well-thought-out plan for ensuring your customers are aware of everything you do (customers can be strange creatures, and have a habit of putting companies, yours included into silos)

 So please, please, look after your existing customers. Treat them like the precious jewels they are. Give them great service. Show them you value them, and use the strategies above to maximise their value to your company

Ready to Take Control of Your Marketing?

Don’t let marketing overwhelm hold you back! signup to any of our free marketing and social media workshop on our website. You can also access our FREE 1-2-1 help and advice any time by giving our Gateway team a call on 0114 224 5000.