Marketing 101
Whether it’s selling crafts at the local markets or bottling homemade jams to sell online, retirement doesn’t have to mean the end to all forms of business and money making. From pocketing a few pennies to running a successful small business, there are now more and more over-60s who are launching their own enterprises after retiring – and quite enjoying it too!
If you’ve already started something up or are thinking about it, one thing is for certain: you will benefit from some marketing know-how. Be it a little bit of knowledge on the subject or a fully thought-out marketing plan, this advice will help you and your offering standout from the pack.
It’s not just about big business
You may think marketing is only for big businesses but all businesses – big or small – have customers. Therefore, small businesses can also benefit from some form of marketing.
It is less likely that a customer will choose to use your service or shop with you if they don’t know anything about your company, what you are selling or why they should choose you over a competitor. Thus, it’s important to think about the branding, messaging and promotion of your business and ways in which you can get the word out there.
A strategy provides insight
Having a marketing strategy will help you understand your customers’ needs and wants, consider your competitors and take into account all the factors that affect your business and environment such as social, legal, economic and technological factors. You’ve probably already considered some of these questions which means you’re on your way to building a successful brand.
Planning equals control
Once you know what factors affect your business, the decisions you need to make will become clearer and easier. You will understand what your target audience wants and how your product meets their needs. You will know what your competitor’s strengths and weaknesses are and how to learn from them. You will have set goals and timeframes, which means you will have a plan to achieve these. Everything becomes easier when you have a plan in place.
It’s all a work-in-progress
A marketing strategy is not something you write once and are done with. It should be constantly developing as your business grows and changes. If you’re feeling rusty with the marketing fundamentals consider taking a course. Marketing skills and knowledge are invaluable for all types of endeavours. Open Training Institute’s Certificate IV in Marketing teaches you all the marketing fundamentals from analysing the market, addressing customer needs and conducting market research.
Where studying marketing could lead you
If you like the idea of furthering your education in the marketing field, then the Certificate IV in Marketing as mentioned above could be just for you. It could lead you to one of the following vocations:
- Direct marketing officer
- Market research assistant
- Marketing coordinator
- Marketing officer
- Public relations officer
This video offers some great insights as to what the course covers:
For information about the Open Training Institute and the courses on offer, or to simply ask a question, call 1300 915 692.