Survival Kit for the 2012 Marketer
Around the world, a large number of people tend to believe that this Mayan Calendar event is very real and the world will end on December 21st, 2012.
So are you going to do? Sit around and wait or gather water and clothes, weapons and other items every survival kit should have?
As for me, I don’t know… I like to see the world through rosed colored glasses and this 2012 sounds a bit far fetched.
I will leave these pessimists go on with their preparations for Armageddon and in this article I will write for the rest of us, those who can see past 2012.
I see a world where your refrigerator will connect via the web with your favorite food store and order the things you need before hand. I see the future where the TV and the computer will be integrated, acting as one. It will allow you to connect with any car manufacturer in the world and design your car anyway you want it. “Go ahead – do it – it will be a pleasure to deliver your car. Is tomorrow OK?” – the soothing voice floats from my TV speakers.
Welcome to Personalized Marketing – the New & Revolutionary Method of Connecting You With Your Customers
Personalized marketing is an extreme form of product differentiation. Personalized marketing will help you manage customers rather than products; it will measure share of customer not share of market. It will mean the pure transition of economies of scope rather than economies of scale. Personalized marketing treats every individual like a marketing segment.
This form of future marketing, which already start happening will speak to each individual on their own terms. This is where the real power of a marketing message comes in – when you speak to each individual customer or prospect in a personal way, making them feel good about the attention they receive.
Personalized marketing can allow you to identifying potential customers; determining their needs and their lifetime value to the company; interact with customers so as to learn about them; and customize products, services, and communications to individual customers.
Personalized marketing is a 4 phase process:
- Identifying potential customers
- Determining their needs, likes and dislikes
- Interacting with customers to learn about them and customize products and services
- A permanent 2 way communication between you the company and individual customers
A web site can track a customer’s interests and make suggestions for the future. Many sites help customers make choices by organizing information and prioritizing it based on the individual’s liking. Take the suggestions Amazon throws at you the moment you buy an item from their online store. That along with product reviews and music suggestions makes me keep on browsing and find out more about the products they are selling.
The internet is a prime example of personalized marketing
It all started with the invention of the email system. Remember back in the 90’s when you signed up for a free account with Yahoo or HotMail. How great did you feel when you were greeted with “Hello <insert your name here>”? That was the very first personalized type of marketing done over the web.
Instead of just buying lunches and schmooze just to keep your company’s name in front of clients, take the time and send them a personal note. It will cost less than a lunch and will pay out better in the long run. Start by mapping out where clients’ goals are relative to additional services, knowledge, and expertise your company can provide.
As you create your personalized marketing campaigns, make sure you include several types of call to action. Encourage feedback. Pay for it – if you must, but include the customer in this cycle no matter what. Ask their opinion and listen to their feedback – it can shape the way you conduct business. People like to give their input and like to be involved. The more information you have about your client the more targeted your personalized marketing campaign will be.
Final thought for Personalized Marketing? Start now; start early. Don’t kid yourself – Personalized Marketing is been here for a while it is and growing ever day.
Unless you believe the 2012 scare…in which case you should really consider buying a personalized backpack and maybe a tent for the exact number of people in your family. I bet someone already has that information and could hook you up faster than typing 2012.
Claudiu Geanta is a successful online business owner and founder of Design by Satori Inc. & ProIncome Marketing, LLC. He teaches businesses how to build an optimum online presence. He is also and accomplished web designer and photographer. You can follow him on twitter.
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