Like most people, I typically dismiss email advertisements in a matter of seconds. If the subject line doesn’t grab my attention in the first few words, or if I am unfamiliar with the sender, the advertisement immediately goes to the trash. This week, however, I received an email advertisement that caught my attention for all the wrong reasons. This email had an odd subject line which read: “Great deals on personalized Christmas ornaments.”
You can imagine my surprise at seeing this subject line in the middle of January. Common sense seems to dictate that you shouldn’t be marketing a holiday product after the holiday has passed, yet this happens more often than you might expect. I immediately discarded the email without reading the offer, incentive, or product details. The company may have had an amazing product or offer, but it fell on deaf ears since it was the beginning of the New Year and I had no current or foreseeable need for the product.
Market in a Timely Manner
One of the most important aspects to keep in mind about your marketing materials is the timing of your message or offer. You want your marketing piece to reach your target audience at a time when your product or service is relevant, and when they might be in the market to buy.
A few things to consider when contemplating the timeliness of your marketing:
- Does your marketing piece or offer correspond with a holiday? Whether it is a specific date or a holiday season, be sure that you marketing piece arrives before the holiday.
- Does your offer include and expiration date? If so, be sure that your message is received in advance so that the offer is still good and the prospect has an opportunity to take advantage.
- Is your product or service seasonal? Be sure to market your company during peak buying times. For example, it would do you no good to advertise tax preparation in May.
- When are you most likely to reach your target audience? When marketing with T.V., Radio, Internet, or email, identify when your potential customers are tuning in and reach out to them then. There is no use in advertising a cereal for children during late night CNN.
- Are your marketing messages automated? Automated marketing via the internet, email, or social media is a real time saver, but be sure that your automation is timed correctly.
Think ahead when planning your marketing strategy. If your marketing piece is time sensitive you need to start preparing in advance. I advise many of my clients to flip ahead in their calendars to identify future marketing opportunities like a Christmas card mailing or a big summer blowout sale over Labor Day weekend. Then, mark your calendar at least a month ahead of the event (for a printed marketing piece) which will give you ample time to brainstorm, create, produce, and distribute your marketing materials. Keep in mind that if you intend to create a multimedia marketing campaign, distribute large quantities, or allow time for follow up, you may need to begin preparations more than a month in advance.
A mistake concerning the timeliness of your marketing may seem insignificant but it can affect your company’s credibility. It will be obvious that you did not prepare in advance. It may also appear that you have little concern for your product or customer if you didn’t care enough to give them adequate time to digest and react to your marketing piece. Some companies intentionally distribute coupons or offers that leave receivers with little time to take advantage of an offer-this just frustrates the receiver and hurts the company’s credibility.
I cant stress it enough when I say check the relevance, check the relevance, recheck the relevance of your marketing pieces! When in doubt, think about it from the receiver’s perspective. Would this be timely relevant to you if you received it? If not, shelf the idea and use it when the time is right.
Amanda Moore
Think outside the box!
This is usually where most of the thought and work goes into a marketing piece, and rightly so. Eye catching, colorful, and meaningful creative will get the receiver’s attention more than a dull piece (but the message will keep their attention).
It is important that the creative reflects your company and what you are trying to advertise. First, you might want to choose a mood for your marketing strategy. If you were to characterize the tone of your marketing, what would you call it: professional, playful, informative, dependable, light hearted, comedic, testimonial? Is complex graphic design going to enhance your piece or might photos help you convey your message more effectively?
Branding is also very essential. The receiver should immediately know who sent the piece and how to contact you for more information. Your company logos, color schemes, and slogans should be prevalent on everything you distribute. It is also helpful to design a campaign around a particular theme, gimmick, character, or slogan that is static in all of your marketing efforts.
Good branding and creative will allow you to build brand awareness and protect your company’s integrity.
Amanda Moore
