How to make it BIG in 2009

If you have a marketing strategy for 2009 and beyond, I hope it is all about improving customer satisfaction because this year unlike any other people are losing jobs left, right and centre. Businesses that once seemed invincible are going bust, so you better have good business strategy in place to help you navigate these difficult times otherwise you are going to be joining the "fallen heroes".

The recession proof marketing tactic I propose involves satisfying customer needs first then profits come as a result of that. However, this tactic won't work for some of you who are in the habit of just grabbing the money and disappearing. This strategy involves an ongoing relationship with the customer and constantly interacting with them. So depending on how often you send out your newsletter you would make it a point to find out if there is anything at all that they need that you may be able to get as an affiliate, shade more light or possibly make a recommendation. So then take the guess work out of your marketing research by finding out what you can do for the people on your list.

The main focus of your marketing strategy throughout 2009 should be deriving more and more value for your customers and not waver in this resolve. If you can't find sufficient time to conduct research for this task or can't figure out how to do this you could hire or outsource this task to a professional before it's too late. Otherwise your business could start to fail in these trying times, if you can't deliver value to your customers.

This year will even be more challenging for some of you because you disregard the fundamentals of running a business, preferring to keep your friends closer than the competitors. You wouldn't want your competition to pull a rabbit out of a hat without you anticipating it. So, make it your business to know what your competitors are doing to satisfy their customers, you may get valuable lesson(s). This does not mean you have to duplicate what competitors are doing but enhance your provision of services to your customers. By improving what you are offering customers you offset the competitors' efforts in your favour. Always keep on top of the game otherwise you will be left behind.

A good strategy for 2009 should have a bit of flexibility. So that as you research and learn new approaches from your competitors, customers, suppliers or markets you will be able to easily incorporate what works for you.

In addition to flexibility a well laid out strategy for this year should also allow for the results to measurable at any particular point in time. Enabling you to compare the results to your targets so that you would know when to improve your efforts if need be. By constantly measuring you also ensure that whatever it is that you are doing is worth your time, effort and money.

For you to make it BIG in 2009 concentrate on what matters the most -customer. When times are hard the sure way to make it is ascertaining what your customers want and then delivering above their expectations. Always derive more value for your customers and you will never be short of customers.

In your endeavour to making it BIG this year and beyond, never lose sight of your competitors otherwise you may regret it. Don't just Xerox competitors tactics, products and services but enhance your ability to deliver better value for your customers and you will be in a better position than they are. Allow your Strategy to be flexible enough for you to include changes and be measurable to show that you are on the right path.