Marketing Communications Strategy

Keeping up with Social Media is challenging. It is not that it is difficult but it is time consuming.  I have to say though it is paying off as part of my Marketing Communications Strategy.

So what have I been doing? For those of you who have read the book you will know that I keep going on about the four key marketing mediums; Direct Marketing, Internet Marketing, Networking and Advertising and PR. Under Direct Marketing I have been sending out letters to organisations (enclosing a copy of the book) that work with new start-ups and small businesses i.e. enterprise boards, craft, food enterprises bodies, etc. Given that the letters have only gone out, one enterprise board ordered 50 copies to give them out at their Start Your Own Business Courses. I was delighted to hear this because this is my strategy and it does helps to get reinforcement from your market so that you know you are on the right track.

My Internet Marketing Strategy remains the same. I just wrote Millie's blog but my last entry for her was 23 October and I really felt bad but I have to be realistic about my time commitment. Millie and Matthew on Twitter have over 350 followers and their Facebook page has engagement on it with over 80 Likes. Has it paid off? I have to say not in book sales yet but in creating momentum for the book. For example, through LinkedIn I was very fortunate to get this article published in the business supplement of the Irish Independent. This was really great for me. I also feel that there is momentum building up on the web so will keep it up, including my own blog.  I can see that people are reading it through my analytics, even as far as Lima in Peru which I was so delighted to see. Thank you all as it makes it worthwhile and I do hope you are getting some encouragement out of my blog to write your own book.

On Networking I continue to do talks at different events like Chambers of Commerce.  The talks are about meeting like minded people and increasing my profile.

On PR, I am not doing too badly here. I have sent out Press Releases each week since January with copy of book and I did a radio interview recently for a local radio station's Small Business Show and it was great experience because it went on for 15 minutes. The interviewer had read The Cheese Mall and asked me very insightful questions. It is great it is on podcast because I could play it back and constructively review my performance. It was not bad for a first interview and while I know my material, it is still nerve racking. In fact I was more nervous listening to it back than actually doing the interview but Conn was great at putting me at ease.

So in summary am working hard to build up momentum under the four marketing channels. Oh I forgot to mention under my Direct Marketing Strategy I also wrote to the Minister for Education to suggest the inclusion of The Cheese Mall on the school curriculum for second level. I also wrote to the two largest book wholesalers with a view to making my book available in book stores. I mentioned in my last blog a real business opportunity coming up which would have been fantastic. Unfortunately it did not materialise due to budgetary constraints and it would not be fair to mention the organisation. I was just delighted that they considered it in the first place and obviously it is not the right platform for The Cheese Mall. I always look on the bright side because in business there are always ups and downs and you cannot let the 'downs' pull you down.

Please help me in spreading the word about The Cheese Mall as I need my web community to help me out here. Bye for now!

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Posted on Friday, 27 January 2012  |   By Bernie Tracey  |   0 comments