Growing in 2007; Have You Made Your New Year's Resolutions Yet?
WhatTheyThink.com - special reports
Excerpts from Premium Content article By Barb Pellow
"2. Create a business plan linked to market reality. Too many graphic communications firms develop a business plan by the seat of their pants. If they have a plan, it consists of a loose collection of tactics without an underlying strategy that pulls it all together. To be successful, businesses must engage in the following critical activities:
1. Analysis of customers and the business environment to identify the right target markets
2. Research of the specific opportunities to better and more profitably meet customer needs in the identified segments
3. Development of product and service offerings that meet customer needs
4. Effective assessment of market position and a clear articulation of the unique value proposition
5. Selection of media to reach the target audience and build awareness to precondition prospects for salespeople
3. Stay a step ahead of technology. Technology continues to move forward at a rapid pace, providing companies with multiple ways to streamline their internal processes and reduce operating expenditures. Externally, a growing body of research indicates that today's consumers increasingly rely on the Internet, cell phones, and PDAs to access information; purchase new products; and communicate with family and friends. Your clients need to package their advertising/marketing messaging and their product/service offerings for these coveted platforms to remain relevant and visible to today's increasingly tech-savvy audience. During 2007, the concepts surrounding multi-channel communications will become essential in the world of graphic communications. Integrated campaign management tools are available from firms like MindfireInc., XMPie, BlueStream, and Pageflex. There will be tremendous pressure for you to evaluate the role that you want to play as the dynamics around business communications change.
Your clients need to package their advertising/marketing messaging and their product/service offerings for these coveted platforms to remain relevant and visible to today's increasingly tech-savvy audience."