Marketing is an essential part of any business. It can be an engaging topic and something that most people enjoy discussing. However, not all businesses are created equal and there are key elements that you need to consider when choosing a marketing framework.

The Importance of Relevant Research

As a business owner, you know that it is important to find the right marketing research to inform your decisions. You can’t constantly be making decisions based on gut feel or intuition alone. For marketers, understanding consumer psychology and behavior is of paramount importance. One of the first things you need to do is identify your target audience and figureheads. Once you have done that, you can begin to define the kind of person you are looking for and tailor your marketing strategies accordingly. For example, if you know that most of your customers are male and over the age of 45, you might want to focus on engaging with this demographic.

Focus On The Future, Not The Past

Since you are reading this, I assume that you are already aware of how important it is to set a long-term marketing strategy and are already working on defining this. One of the primary reasons that you are reading this article is because you are trying to select the right marketing platform for your business. Choosing a marketing platform is a lot like choosing a website builder. You need to consider a variety of factors but above all you need to focus on the user experience and what is most important to you as a business owner. To give you an idea of what these factors are, here are some of the things you should consider:

• Do you want a fully functioning website with a blog?
• Do you want to use a tool to generate and send out beautiful marketing emails?
• Do you want to allow customers to make purchases online using your credit card?
• Do you want to provide customers with a memorable and unique experience?
• Can you provide customers with useful information about your company?
• Are you looking for a one-stop-shop for all of your marketing needs?
• How much support do you want from the company?
• How often do you want to hear from the company?
• How much do you want to pay for hosting?
• What is your expertise and who are your competitors?
• How much do you want to spend on SEO?
• What do you want to achieve? (i.e. lead generation, sales, etc.)
• How important is brand awareness and do you want to invest in extensive brand marketing?
• How important is digital marketing?
• What is your budget?

With all of this information in mind, you can begin to determine what type of marketing framework you need to choose. Remember to also set a financial strategy and commit to spending at least three months on your marketing project before you start to evaluate the results.

Consider The Legal Aspects

If you are just starting a business or if you already have a business but are looking to expand, you need to consider the legal aspects. It is easy to become complacent after you have been in business for a while and do not review or update your legal documents. You must review and update these documents at least once a year or when there is a significant change to one of your company’s operations or ownership. There are several legal documents that you will need to consider including a business plan, a lease, a loan agreement, etc. The legal terminology can be a little overwhelming but basically these documents help you establish your company and protect your interests as an entrepreneur.

How Do You Want To Engage With Your Audience?

Once you have chosen the right marketing framework for your business, you need to consider how you want to engage with your audience. Do you want to use your blog to provide content for industry insiders? Do you want to use social media to engage with your customers? Do you want to send out mass emails to bring in more business? It is all about you and what you want from your marketing efforts. Once you have thought about this, begin to strategize. I would recommend creating a marketing plan and reviewing this at least once a month.

When choosing a marketing framework, it is important to think about what you want to achieve and how you want to engage with your audience. There are various platforms and tools out there and unless you have a clear picture in mind of what you are looking for, it can be difficult to choose the right one. In the end, you need to believe in what you are building and understand that whatever platform you choose will ultimately serve a purpose. You are in charge of your marketing and your decisions will determine your business’ direction. Good luck!