As the year draws to a close, we at M-pact Marketing know we have a lot to be grateful for: a successful first full year in business, a team of dedicated employees and a laundry list of clients and partners whom, without, we wouldn’t be in business.

We’re also thrilled about where things are headed for M-pact Marketing and hope to share some new and exciting company developments with you soon. Here is a recap of some of our favorite tidbits from 2009.

1. Leverage a team of dedicated experts to grow your business. You’ve got so much to concentrate on as an entrepreneur, but sometimes your resources are limited. When you leverage experts who understand marketing and its place in your business, you maximize your exposure and spend.
2. Don’t try to boil the ocean. Yes, it is possible to be too ambitious when it comes to marketing. Instead of trying to conquer all, aim for focused market domination. Study your target audiences, including their buying behaviors, media consumption and pain points, then narrow your focus to target them. You may not boil the ocean, but you’ll definitely heat up your business.
3. Build a fully integrated marketing plan with a concise message and consistent approach. Ensuring all of the elements in your marketing mix work together cohesively and consistently is paramount to maximizing your potential. Start with a strong message and leverage it throughout your entire marketing initiative.
4. Leverage all marketing channels—traditional, online and new media marketing. Studies show it takes at least seven touches, from multiple channels and vehicles, to get one conversion. There is no silver bullet, so continue to integrate all of your activities and learn from what worked and what didn’t.
5. It’s a marathon, not a race. Don’t be nearsighted with your marketing plan. Otherwise, you might be missing critical opportunities to communicate with key targets and grow your business. Concentrate your marketing efforts on long-term goals and objectives. And remember, unlike many other facets of a business, marketing does not always necessarily have an immediate ROI. Stay focused, and the rewards will come.
6. Be creative. Be a game changer. You’re an entrepreneur—a risk taker and trailblazer by definition. Follow your intuition and creativity, even as it pertains to marketing. The most memorable marketing and advertising campaigns are those that are fresh, different and creative.
7. Listen to your customers. They’ll tell you what you’re doing right - and wrong. Respond to their needs and build loyalty through product innovation and superior customer service. Current customers may also offer the biggest clues in helping you zero in on new and profitable target markets. Pay attention to how they’re using your product or service and take note. You may be surprised.
8. Marketing is like a pie. Missing one ingredient means it might not taste just right. As in baking a pie, there are certain key ingredients that go into building and executing a successful marketing plan. The ingredients all need to work together seamlessly in order to meet your business goals.
   

Well, that’s it for 2009. Happy holidays everyone and best wishes for a great start to the New Year.

• “Who Gets It? Savvy Trade Show Exhibitors & Their 5 Rules for Success” – Fast Company
  
  
• “Stop Wasting Your Time With Social Media”- Duct Tape Marketing
  
  
• “Lessons from Entrepreneurs Who Beat the Odds” -BusinessWeek

1. Look closely at what worked and what didn’t in 2009
2. Turn your past mistakes into new opportunities
3. Be sure to tell your customers how much you appreciate their business

Stay tuned for our
January newsletter to
see more ways you can make a
difference in 2010…

Do you have a tradeshow
or event on your radar for 2010? Check out M-pact Events,
the latest addition to www.marketingbundles.com

Have you ever considered creating an eBook to help educate your audience or to improve conversion rates from your website or campaigns? Check out the e-book recently completed for Intelligent Search Technology.