Published on: 22 March 2019
Last Updated on: 30 May 2019
Marketing is vital to every company’s success. Without the correct marketing strategies employed, no one will know about your business. Even if you have high-quality products, no one will care about them since they do not know that your business exists in the first place. It is true especially for small companies that are yet to create a name in the industry.
Allotting money for marketing plans could boost your success. Make sure though that you spend it wisely; otherwise, you will be wasting the opportunity to advertise.
You started marketing without a strategy:
Not all marketing strategies work. Some of them are expensive, but you do not see the results. Others are free, but the tactic could attract a lot of people. The marketing plan is a long process that begins by researching the people that you are targeting. You need to know what they want and what advertising strategy appeals to them. For instance, if you decide to release a video ad online, it needs to be short and concise. Within that short time, you can capture attention if you have a strategy; otherwise, no one will watch it.
You are not spending enough money:
If you think of using a portion of your budget for marketing, you need to go all-in; otherwise, you are wasting the opportunity. Some marketing strategies are expensive and require you to invest a lot. However, you also build your company’s name in the process. For instance, if you want media coverage in a massive event that is going to happen in your area, you need to spend money to be a major sponsor. If you are going to release a TV commercial, you need to spend money on quality production. You still need to be smart in determining how much to spend, but you cannot keep reducing the budget.
You expect quick results:
The problem when some people spend money on advertising is that they expect results right away. It does not work that way. When you advertise, you need to wait for a while before you see things go in the right direction. The reason why it is essential is that some people decide to give up and stop spending when the advertising efforts are still going on. Once you choose to use an advertising strategy, you cannot abandon it in the middle of the process just because you think it is not working.
You are spending everything on one strategy:
It would be a disaster if you invested all your money in one marketing effort, and it failed. Diversifying your tactics will help a lot. If you think that online marketing works, you can invest in it. However, you cannot assume that it will be successful. As such, it also helps if you spend money in other areas like the use of conventional marketing methods. You can try garment t-shirt printing since it is a proven technique that many businesses still use. You may also start giving out flyers and posters.
Be careful in using your money for marketing and make sure you are investing it in the right way.
Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.
What Is Content Marketing?
It’s a form of marketing wherein brands create and share online content. It could be in the form of blogs, videos, social media posts, reviews, descriptions, etc.
Content marketing does not explicitly promote a company/brand (although there can be promotional content). Instead, it aims to generate interest in a service/product via customer education and awareness.
Why Is Content Marketing Important?
Content marketing holds immense importance for brands for myriad reasons. Some of those are:
It educates people about your products/services and brand in general
It answers the questions people may have about you
You can build long-lasting relationships with people through content
In the long run, it establishes you as an authority in the market
It can improve conversion rates
It’s the primary source of lead generation
When all else fails, the fact that most people expect high-quality content from their most favored brands is the reason for companies to churn out content regularly.
Does Content Marketing Work for Small Businesses?
The short answer to this question is - YES. It does work. Small businesses often feel at a loss as they don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on ads every month. But, with content marketing, they can secure top positions in SERPs for keywords with high search volume.
By investing a few hundred dollars in some quality blog posts, they can almost get the same traction as big companies often do by spending thousands.
Reasons Your Company Needs Content Marketing:
Better Social Media Traction:
Content creation is the basis of securing a huge following on social media. However, just having followers is not enough. To keep them interested and engaged as you progress, you present them with information that interests them.
If you’re having a hard time securing any traction on social media despite a big following; you may need to tweak your content strategy.
Establish Trust With Your Audience:
Through content, you can address people’s pain points in your arena. When customers see that you can help them out, it will inevitably establish a sense of trust with them.
Builds Authority:
By churning out quality pieces such as those around possible future trends in the industry and data analysis, a brand can establish itself as an authority in the niche. As people read and interact through your content, they will think highly of your brand. Brands that regularly publish quality and authoritative content tend to enjoy more customers and better sales.
Greater Return on a Smaller Investment:
Unlike traditional marketing that requires a ton of budget but can only reach a small number of prospects; with content marketing, you can reach a much wider audience with very little expenditure. If applied correctly, the return on investment from content marketing can be exponential.
This arrangement is particularly good for small businesses as they are mostly short on the marketing budget. For a tiny budget, they can secure a strong footing in the industry.
Expose Your Business to New Prospects and a Larger Audience:
By optimizing your content for location-specific keywords, you can widen your outreach. There’s no limitation to the amount of audience you can target with the help of your content marketing efforts.
It’s all about how creatively you find topics and promote them through a combination of strategies. Whether you’re a local business or a global one; content can keep on bringing new prospects and a bigger audience to you.
Boosts Organic Search Visibility:
Through the means of regular blogging and social media posts, you can make sure that more and more people can find you organically. Organic visibility is when a person can see you in the search results against queries related to your industry terms or your brand name.
Content marketing and SEO strategy will help you appear naturally in search engines like Google and Bing.
Content Can Be a Major Lead Magnet for Growing Businesses:
By crafting helpful content and placing CTAs strategically in that content, you can get quality leads. With the help of free content such as guides, how-tos, infographics you can prompt the desired user action. It could be getting them to a landing page and getting them to subscribe to a service.
Every lead magnet, in the end, must rely on quality content.
How to Score Your Content?
Often writers are unable to quantify what kind of content is best for their brand as well as the audience. With the help of content scoring, they can objectively look at their content process and identify the pieces that are proving to be the most valuable.
Based on this evaluation, they can replicate their best-performing content strategy to create similar traction in the future as well.
Here’s the content scoring process to stick with -
Decide on a metric -
For your scoring system to be effective, you must decide on an engagement metric. Based on the success of that engagement metric, you can see what type of content is creating the biggest impact. For some, this can mean page view. For others, it can be the number of shares on Facebook.
Devise a campaign -
After deciding on the metric, you need to draft a campaign that can meet the said metric threshold. For instance, if you feel 1,000 pageviews are good enough, start pouring in content assets that can meet those criteria.
Monitor the performance -
See how well each content piece is doing. Keep adding the pieces of content to your campaign that meets the criteria. You can use HubSpot Analytics to track performance.
Find out Patterns -
After you have the results from your analytics at hand, see if you can spot any patterns in your best-performing content. You can then take out those elements and replicate them across all the content pieces you write.
Repeat -
You should know that content is an ongoing process. With time you may notice new patterns emerging. Keep taking necessary action accordingly based on new insights.
The Role of AI-Generated Content in Small Business Marketing Strategies
AI-generated content is making waves in the marketing industry, we all know that by now!
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It’s a game changer for small businesses.
If you’re a small business owner, you know that keeping up with content creation can be a full-time job in itself.
Blogs, social media posts, product descriptions—the list goes on and on!
But what if we told you there was a tool out there designed to help you do it all? Here are a few ways AI can benefit your small business.
Save time & Money
Time is money, isn’t it?
This is why you would need to make the most of the trendy tools which are coming our way. With AI tools, you can create content in the blink of an eye.
You could have a full blog post written, an Instagram caption, or even an email campaign done in minutes. Imagine having ChatGPT or Copy.ai doing it for you. Freeing up more time to spend on other areas of your business-like product development or customer service.
Affordable but Quality Content
Hiring a content writer? Expensive.
But AI? It’s way more budget-friendly! If you’re working with a small budget (and most small businesses are).
Yes, AI tools let you create professional-quality content without a huge price tag. Now, that doesn’t mean you’ll never need a human touch because editing is inevitable. But for the basics, AI can take you a long way. More money saved, more options to grow your business.
Keep Your Content Consistent and Engaging
Struggling to keep up? After all, whether you have blog posts to publish or social media posts to launch, there are a few things to make. Use of AI to rescue!
Utilize AI tools that can help generate topics, write drafts, and keep your content pipeline full. The best part is they can also analyze what’s popular in your industry, so you’re not just posting anything.
You’re putting it there because it matters to your audience. Plus, they are not very complicated to use!
Win Over Your Competitor
Let’s face it—it’s tough to get noticed in the online world these days. AI-generated content allows you to optimize your posts for SEO (even if you have no idea what SEO means).
This will give your business a better shot at ranking in Google searches and help you bring in new customers without spending a fortune on advertising.
If you’re sick of cranking out the content, and not delivering the much needed quality (because of writer’ block), why not try letting AI give your small business a little push instead?
Careful With AI!
No matter your niche or industry; if you’re a part of the online sphere you simply cannot do without an effective content marketing strategy at hand.
When talking about AI content, there are a few items you should remember!
When using AI for content creation, there are a few things to avoid. Don’t rely entirely on AI-generated content without reviewing it. Always edit for tone, accuracy, and personalization.
AI can make errors or create generic content, so make sure it reflects your brand's voice. Avoid overstuffing AI content with keywords—it can hurt SEO.
Also, don’t skip fact-checking!
AI tools can occasionally produce outdated or inaccurate information. Lastly, avoid using AI for all your content; mix it with human creativity to keep your messaging fresh and authentic. Balance is key!
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Do you know how a company just knows what you want? They collect a few surveys, and suddenly they know more about your requirements than you! Is it all automated? Short answer, no!
Someone is sitting and analyzing every behavioral data of a consumer to create profiles. They are called market research analysts!
Are you just fascinated with the idea of a market research analyst? Or someone who is planning to become one?
This is how you can become a market research analyst -
Let’s begin with understanding who a market research analyst is.
What Is A Market Research Analyst?
Market research analysts are the strategic brains behind a company’s marketing decisions. Their job is to gather data on consumers and competitors and then use that information to guide business strategies.
Whether a company is launching a new product or planning a marketing campaign, market research analysts are the ones who determine the best approach. They don’t just guess; they rely on cold, hard data.
What Do They Do?
A market research analyst’s role involves several core responsibilities. Why don’t we go through them to know the responsibilities a little better?
Data Collection: Gathering data is the starting point of any market analyst. This could be through surveys, interviews, focus groups, or analysis of existing market data.
Trend Analysis: After gathering the data, they identify patterns and trends that provide insights into market behavior. For example, what products are gaining popularity, or which consumer needs are currently unmet? How can the company they work for help meet them?
Market Forecasting: Analysts will often predict future market trends. However, this is not just through guessing. However, when a company plans to launch a product next year, these professionals will forecast whether the market will be favorable or not.
Furthermore, they also inform about whether the product will launch in the right direction and be liked by the audience you are targeting.
Consumer Segmentation: By analyzing consumer data, they segment the market into groups based on behavior, preferences, or demographics.
Reporting and Presentations: Then, they communicate their findings to decision-makers through reports, presentations, and visual data displays.
Competitor Analysis: Understanding competitors’ moves and strategies is key. Market research analysts monitor what competitors are doing and how they’re positioning themselves in the market.
What Degrees Do You Need To Get?
There isn’t one fixed path to becoming a market research analyst, but certain degrees, and conceptual skills can give you a strong foundation:
Bachelor’s Degree: A degree in marketing, business, economics, or statistics is often the starting point. Subjects like research methods, consumer behavior, and data analysis are crucial.
Advanced Degrees: Unfortunately, just a bachelor's degree wouldn't do for more senior roles. Therefore, a master’s degree in market research, data science, or business analytics can be advantageous. An MBA is also beneficial if you’re aiming for leadership positions.
Your educational qualifications should focus on building a mix of analytical, research, and communication skills, as these are the backbone of a successful career in this field.
Later you can also upskill by becoming a data scientist, and it can open more doors for you.
Tools You Will Need To Learn
As a market research analyst, you’ll need to know the art of upskilling. You can do so with various tools and software that streamline your work:
Data Analysis Software: Tools like SPSS and Python are complex tools. Mastering them might take you years. However, you should still try to master it because it is great for running statistical analysis and handling large datasets.
Survey Platforms: Software like Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, and Google Forms help design and analyze surveys.
CRM Tools: Understanding tools like Salesforce and HubSpot are essential for tracking customer data and trends. This ensures that market research analysts do not depend on guesswork.
Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, and Google Data Studio are crucial for presenting data in a visually engaging way.
Competitive Analysis Tools: SEMrush, SimilarWeb, and BuzzSumo provide insights into your competitors’ strategies and their market performance. After all, you will need to know what others are doing for their customers. That is always a sign of a good market research analyst.
Mastering these tools will enhance your efficiency and make your work more impactful.
Life Of A Day Of A Market Research Analyst
What does a typical workday look like for A Market Research Analyst?
We will go through it step by step to have a better idea of their role as a Market Research Analyst.
1. Morning: Data Collection And Initial Analysis
The day often begins with reviewing the latest data from surveys, focus groups, or market reports.
Analysts spend the early hours gathering information that will guide their day’s analysis.
2. Midday: Deep Dive Into Analysis
The core part of their job kicks in around midday. This is when they run statistical models, crunch numbers, and identify key insights.
Meetings with product teams or marketing departments often happen around this time to discuss early findings.
3. Afternoon: Reporting And Strategy Discussions
After the analysis, it’s time to translate data into actionable strategies. Analysts prepare detailed reports highlighting key trends and recommendations.
Then, they might deliver a few presentations to senior management to guide their decision-making.
4. Late Afternoon: Market Monitoring And Competitor Analysis
Keeping a pulse on market trends and competitors is crucial.
Analysts usually allocate some time in the late afternoon to social media updates, reviewing industry news, and studying competitors' moves.
5. End-of-the-Day Planning And Strategy Tweet
Before wrapping up, their main job is to refine strategies based on the latest social media insights and plan for the next day’s tasks.
After all, without understanding whether your current plan is working or not.
The final work would involve technical analytics, strategic thinking, and effective communication, which would also include talking to their team.
How To Get A Job As A Market Research Analyst
Getting your foot in the door as a market research analyst requires more than just the right degree.
Here’s a practical guide:
Start with Internships: Right after you have finished your bachelor's degree, many companies offer internships in market research, allowing you to gain real-world experience while studying.
Create a Portfolio: Build a collection of your best work. Whether from academic projects, freelance jobs, or case studies. A strong portfolio can showcase your analytical and research skills.
Get Certified: Professional certifications, such as the Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) or Google’s Data Analytics Certification, can give you an edge.
Network Actively: Next, join industry groups, attend webinars, or engage in professional forums. Networking can open doors to job opportunities and keep you updated on industry trends.
Tailor Your Applications: When applying for jobs, customize your CV and cover letter for each position. Highlight skills like data analysis, research methodologies, and strategic thinking.
Best Career Options & The Potential Salary
The field offers diverse career paths. Depending on your interests, you might specialize as:
Consumer Insights Analyst: Focus on understanding consumer behavior and preferences.
Product Research Analyst: Specializes in product development and testing.
Brand Analyst: Concentrate on evaluating brand performance and strategy.
Competitive Intelligence Analyst: Monitor competitors and track industry trends.
When it comes to salaries, market research analysts can get a reasonably good salary, provided you have the skills to back it up. Especially when your analysis begins to work for a company and starts bringing in a lot of profit.
Entry-level positions typically offer between £25,000 to £35,000 annually. With experience, salaries rise to £50,000 or more.
For those in specialized roles or with advanced degrees, six-figure jobs are not uncommon.
Final Note!
The path to becoming a market research analyst combines curiosity, a knack for numbers, and strategic thinking. It’s about more than just crunching data; it’s about turning data into insights that drive real business results.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance in this field, there are plenty of opportunities for growth and impact in the business world.
Especially with the advent of digital marketing, you will have enough opportunities in terms of SEO, and website data analysis.
So, are you ready to dive into this world where data meets strategy?
You could be the one predicting market trends and helping businesses shape their futures.
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We naturally make certain mental connections when we hear particular phrases. For example, when we hear the phrase ‘workplace injury’. we would likely draw a connection to construction workers or assembly-line workers who get a herniated disc after lifting a heavy object. It’s a natural connection to make. After all, workers in construction and manufacturing do suffer many workplace injuries every year.
But it might come as a surprise to some employers that a large number of workplace injuries and illnesses occur in more unassuming locations - namely, the everyday, average office building. Thousands of workers suffer injuries in an office environment every year, ranging from mild sprains that require no time off of work to catastrophic injuries that are debilitating and, in some cases, fatal.
What are these dangers that lurk in our office buildings, and what can we do to ensure the safety of office employees?
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Common Dangers for Office Workers
Falls - Did you know that workplace falls in offices occur at a rate two to two-and-a-half times greater than those in non-office work environments? Not only are falls the most common injury in the workplace -- they also have the potential for some of the greatest damage. Falls can result in broken bones, sprains, spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries, to name just a few.
Tip: Keep floors free from clutter and look out for anything that might cause employees to slip or trip, such as loose, broken flooring or slick surfaces.
Being Struck by or Against an Object - Yet another surprising form of injury suffered in office environments is being struck by an object. This could mean bumping into an object, being hit by a thrown object or any number of scenarios in which a person comes into contact with a moving or stationary object.
Tip: Safely store equipment so it poses no threat to workers. Always make sure that drawers are closed, and be mindful of fingers and hands when closing drawers.
Airborne Contaminants and Poor Air Quality - Indoor air quality control should be a top priority of any office space. Hazards can include asbestos, mold and chemical contaminants. Depending on the level of contamination and the sensitivity of each individual worker (especially if they are allergic to a particular substance), airborne hazards can cause serious illness.
Tip: Regularly have your workplace inspected for air quality and immediately address any hazards that might be present. If there are toxins or other airborne hazards present in your office building, make sure your employees evacuate the building until it is safe to return.
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Lifting Injuries - Workers in office buildings regularly move items around, whether lifting boxes full of printer paper, carrying packages from an inbox or simply moving commonplace desk items from one spot to another. These seemingly innocuous tasks can lead to strained muscles or herniated discs if done improperly or if a pre-existing condition is present.
Tip: Never pick up an object unless you are sure of how heavy it will be, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from a co-worker if an object is heavy enough to pose a risk. Remember proper lifting techniques and always lift with your knees. Also, don’t lift anything while seated. This can cause serious strain on your body and lead to injury.
Posturing and Ergonomic-Related Injuries - One of the most basic yet overlooked aspects of ensuring office workers are not injured on the job is optimizing the setup of a workspace. As simple as it might seem, the position of a chair, the height of a desk or the distance that a worker sits from their workstation can have a major impact on a worker’s health. If a worker is constantly in a state of poor posture or strains to do their jobs, they can quickly develop problems with their back, shoulders, wrists, and neck. Over time, a condition can worsen to become a serious injury that lingers with a worker for years to come. For example, an office worker who is repeatedly straining to reach their keyboard might be at a greater risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Tip: Arrange a workspace so that it fits the person using it. Make sure that the chair is the proper height and that the worker never has to strain or reach very far to perform basic, repetitive functions.
Eye Strain - Now more than ever before, workers endure a significant amount of strain to their eyes. While screens in and of themselves do not permanently damage the eye, eye strain can lead to other problems that might hinder a worker’s productivity. Eye strain can cause headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes and difficulty focusing, to name just a few problems. Much like ergonomic-related injuries, eye strain might also be addressed by a properly situated workspace.
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Tip: Remind workers to take breaks from the screen from time to time. Suggest lubricating eye drops (the kind without preservatives) for workers with dry eyes. Other ways to reduce the effects of computer screens on workers’ eyes is to make sure that the screen is level with their line of sight and adjusting the brightness of a screen to the liking and comfort of the person using it.
Not only does reducing these hazards make for a safer workplace, but it also creates a more productive work environment. Happier and healthier employees are much more likely to be efficient and productive in their jobs. Consider an investment in maintaining and improving the safety of your office space as a way to improve worker morale in addition to improving the workflow of your business.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that businesses collectively spend $170 billion on workplace injuries and illnesses. OSHA goes on to say that by taking steps to address workplace health and safety, businesses can reduce these costs by up to 40 percent.
As you can see, working in an office doesn’t come without risks. It is up to employers and supervisors to keep an eye out for these hazards and to regularly inspect and address anything that might pose risks to their employees. If you see something in your office that looks like it might be a work hazard, inform your employer of the problem immediately. You might just be saving your coworkers from a workplace injury.
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