Be SMART With Your Marketing

Marketing a business can be tough. Done correctly, your company may be positioned for success for the foreseeable future. Done incorrectly, your business could be in for some tough times. An internet search will turn up an almost infinite number of potential tactics that may or may not help you. That?s why developing a strategy before choosing on one or more of these tactic is an important step.

Part of the strategy you develop should include stating your goals, or what we call beacons. Setting goals helps your marketing because they exist as a guide to help ensure you stay on track–much like a beacon. However, goal-setting itself can be difficult, so here at Beacon Marketing we suggest using the SMART method.

Getting SMART

You might have heard of the SMART method to goal-setting, and you may have even used it yourself. There are a few variations of the acronym, but we like to use the following:

• S – Specific
• M – Measurable
• A – Attainable
• R – Relevant
• T – Timely

Let?s look at how this method can be used to develop your marketing goals:

• Specific: When we ask businesses what would they like out of their marketing, many respond with ?more revenue.? Unfortunately, that is not enough information to develop goals for marketing purposes. When you think about your goals, think about the specific ways in which you would like your marketing to increase revenue. Specificity keeps you and your team on the same page and working towards the same goals.
• Measurable: You should be able to measure the progress of your marketing goals. Being able to analyze the progress of your goals helps you better understand how well (or how poorly) your marketing efforts are performing. ?
• Attainable: While it is good to reach for the stars, it is also important to understand your business?s limits. Do not set a goal that is unrealistic given your resources or even industry standards. Attainable goals will keep you and your staff motivated and engaged as you proceed with meeting those goals.
• Relevant: Ensure your marketing goals pertain to marketing. It can be easy to begin to creep into other areas of the business. The goals you set should focus on how to market the business, not closing sales or the fulfillment of sales.
• Timely: Do not allow your goals to be on an indefinite deadline. Including a due creates a sense of urgency and also gives you another way to measure the performance of your marketing team.

Done correctly, the goals you set will truly act as beacons that will help serve as guiding lights for your marketing efforts and the success of your business.

Contact Beacon Marketing today to get started on your marketing goals! 505-585-4487