There are three steps you must master for successful marketing, and by the time you finish today’s post, you’ll be able to apply them to all your marketing projects.
1. READ: Make it appealing and legible
If no one reads your content, what’s the point?
Whether you’re mailing out a postcard or trying to grab the attention of web surfers, you only have seconds to make an impression. Seconds!
In those seconds, people decide whether to read your piece based on how much time they think it will take, among other things.
Show them it won’t take long by making your text “skimmable.” That means:
- Plenty of subheads
- Short paragraphs
- Bulleted lists š
- Not too much text on any given page
It’s sad I have to mention legibility, but I’ve seen it too often to ignore. People – sometimes even professional designers – make design choices based on what looks “pretty” or “trendy,” and forget that someone needs to actually read the words on the page.
Look at your text in the font and size you want to use. Check readability. Are long blocks of text easy to read? Is the point size large enough?
If not, make adjustments. Legibility is too important to ignore.
2. RECOGNIZE: Unique messages consistently delivered make an impact
Let’s break this statement down so it’s easier to understand:
Unique Messages
Want to get recognized? Dare to stand out from the pack. Make your marketing materials look and sound different than your competitors’.
Don’t be a copycat. Study what the others in your field are doing, but only so you can veer from the norm and do something different.
- Make your copy original
- Present your offer in a way that stands out
- Use a graphic style that differs from the norm
Delivered Consistently
Once you’ve hit on your unique message, don’t change.
Oh sure, you can change your ad campaign slogan, but don’t change your logo, your colors and your overall graphic style. Make your materials recognizable through repeated use of these elements so that people recognize your brand when they see it.
Make an Impact
You’ll make an impact when you craft a unique message and deliver it consistently. And that’s what marketing is all about, right?
3. REMEMBER: Top of mind awareness drives customers to your business
Wikipedia defines top of mind awareness like this:
“Owning the space that your product or service occupies between your prospects’ ears. That way, when they’re ready to buy they think of you first.”
You’ve made your materials appealing and readable. You’ve positioned your business so it’s unique, and presented your message consistently.
Now, keep up the good work. Over time, you can count on becoming the first company people think of when they need the product or service you offer.
It sounds simple, and of course it’s not. If it was simple to implement these three techniques we wouldn’t need marketing books, courses and blogs. You wouldn’t need my articles and courses, and I’d have nothing to write about!
But you can do it. Keep at it, and hold these three goals in your mind: Read, Remember and Recognize.
Which of these goals is the most difficult for you? Tell me in the comments.
9 thoughts on “The Three Rs of Marketing, and Why You Should Memorize Them”
Yes, yes, yes to unique messages! So many businesses fall into the trap of “well, this is just how it’s done in our industry,” and imitate the style and tone that everyone else is using. If this is what’s going on in your competitive market, do you ever have a killer opportunity to stand out! Take full advantage and take some so-called risks. Great post Pamela š
Thanks, Martina!
You’re right: when there’s a definite trend in an industry, it’s a wonderful opportunity to stand out if you just approach your market from a slightly different angle.
“That’s just how it’s done” is the least creative approach, and a guaranteed path to being forgettable.
Very good post, Martina!
As more of a marketer than a designer, I’d add a fourth “R” – repetition. Combining that fourth R with your three Rs are the perfect combination for that “top of mind” factor we all want.
Oops! Just realized I got my names mixed up in my initial reply … apologies, Pamela!
Don’t worry, Frank! Just kidding, Bob š We all have days like that …
hi there,
I really like your approach. Its straight forward and practical and you practice what you preach.
You ARE easy to read, remember and recognise…….keep up the good work ! lol
Thanks, Jocelyne. That’s what I aim for every week. š
Very good precise information. My hardest is recognizing, there is so much fluff on the InterNet, but this article helped. Thank you, Brewster
Thank you for reading!
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