Integrating Your Marketing

How To Increase Your Return On Advertising Investment

 In marketing and advertising, synergy is a real thing. The total effect of all of your marketing and advertising activities combined should be larger than the individual parts.  

 This page offers some suggestions for creating synergy with your marketing and advertising.

Is Synergy Really Real In Marketing and Advertising?

 Absolutely. Consider the percentage of people in your target audience you reach when you advertise in the newspaper. Here is a good example of what is going on in the real world:

 With a newspaper advertisement you reach 25% of your target group.

 Add a yellow page ad, and you reach an additional 16% of the people.

 Add a direct mail piece, and you reach an additional 18% of the people.

 Add a television ad, and you reach an additional 12% of the people.

 Add a radio ad, and your reach an additional 7% of the people.

 By using multiple media outlets you have reached more of your target audience with your marketing and advertising. You have also reached them multiple times because they get messages from different places.

 Your messages reinforce each other. The result is an overall higher response at a lower cost. You have created synergy with your marketing and advertising. That’s why large companies spend money on print, mail, radio, and television, all at the same time.

 It works because different people pay more attention to [and have more faith in] different types of media. When seriously reviewing ads for a product, about 25% of people review and trust the newspaper. 18% consider direct mail, 21% the yellow pages, 8% television, 4% radio, and 4% magazines. A coupon will influence about 9% of people making a purchase decision.

 The numbers in our examples are only an approximation of what really happens in the marketplace, and they change according to product category. But it is clear that by using different kinds media [like the yellow pages and direct mail together], or even different media outlets [like multiple newspapers] you can and will reach more potential customers more effectively with your marketing and advertising.

 Since different groups of people use and trust different types of media, it is important to know where your target market is looking for information. Ask your customers what they read, what media they like, and what media they trust. Read Targeting Customers for more information.

Build More Marketing And Advertising Synergy For Your Business 

 The #1 rule in marketing and advertising is stay in front of your customers. Marketing and advertising have a cumulative effect. Consistent Advertising = Familiarity = Trust = Customers. Long-term consistency in marketing and advertising creates synergy.

 All of your marketing and advertising materials should have a consistent look. They should match. Your logo, style, colors, catch phrase, attitude, benefits package, and contact information should be on every document you print. That includes invoices, business cards, press releases, register receipts, shopping bags, brochures, pamphlets, letter head, and to the extent possible, your printed advertisements.

 Every printed advertisement should have the same look and feel. There should be no question in the clients’ mind about which company is running the ad [so don’t copy your competitor's ad]. You want the customer to see the consistent, unique look of your company.

 If you change the overall look of your ads, you may break rule #1 - consistency. You didn’t stop running your ad, but you changed it so much that your clients don’t recognize it.

 This is a particularly important point. Everyone you know [including yourself] will get really bored with your marketing and advertising. But only your customers count. And until your customers are serious about making a purchase, they won’t pay close attention to your ad. Your company will feel familiar to them because they have seen your ad 100 times, but only when they are ready will they really read it.

 You will not bore your customers. Do not change the overall look and feel of your ads unless you don’t get the sales you expect or need.

 To the greatest extent possible, your marketing materials should cross-reference each other. If you have a great brochure, then advertise your brochure in your other ads. Offer it everywhere possible.

 Your newsletter should advertise your brochure and your web site. Your brochure should advertise your newsletter and your catalog. If you have a really commanding position in the yellow pages, reference people there. Cross-link everything, and if you have the space, do actual advertisements promoting the availability of your other marketing and advertising materials.

 Your fundamental company philosophy [your mission statement] should be communicated clearly and consistently to customers, employees, the public, investors, and partners and suppliers at every point of contact. Your mission statement should go forth loud and clear to everyone, every time. Make it a prominent part of doing business.

  Remember to list all of your points of contact [addresses, phone numbers, fax, e-mail, web site] on all of your marketing and advertising materials.

  Your store or place of business should also integrate with and reinforce your marketing and advertising materials. Prominently display your slogan or company philosophy. Display reproductions of your advertisements, and prominently offer all of your other marketing materials.

 Use matching uniforms and point-of-purchase displays. Use posters, signage, imprinted pens, sales receipts, and even your floor mat to reproduce your consistent, unique company look and feel. To the extent possible, your place of business and the quality of your service should look and feel like your marketing and advertising materials. After all, that is what the client expects from reading your ads.

 Nothing will strengthen your marketing and advertising more than delivering on your service promises.

 What you are doing in some respects is creating a company brand. [Please read Branding Strategy to better understand the branding process and the advantages of turning your entire business into it’s own brand.] But what you are really doing is using every communication outlet at your disposal to reinforce every other communication outlet that you have.

 By taking every opportunity to direct your customer’s attention back into your marketing and advertising message, you create synergy with your marketing. Your advertising effectiveness goes up, and your marketing costs go down. You make more money – and that is what Professional Advertising is all about.

Ask For Help

 As always, we strongly recommend that you hire a quality graphic design firm to create your ads. And ask a marketing professional to review your current advertising and your advertising strategy.

 Understanding how to create synergy with your marketing and advertising to get you a higher return on your advertising investment is what Professional Advertising is all about. Please contact Professional Advertising for more information.   Mr

Back   Home   Email Us Now