Many freelancers rely on word of mouth to attract new clients and grow their business. Some even pride themselves on running a business based on recommendations from their clients. There is no doubt that businesses can grow by word of mouth, but this cannot be the only marketing strategy for freelancers as it does not allow them to dominate the narrative about the brand they are building and implies leaving all promotion of their activity to chance .
What is marketing?
Marketing is often one of the unfinished tasks for freelancers, who often confuse it with having a website, a blog or a profile on social networks. In reality, marketing involves estonia mobile phone number data following a strategy that will allow you to promote your brand, differentiate yourself from the competition, connect with potential consumers and, ultimately, sell your products and services .
Why is marketing so important for a business?
In 2002, Volkswagen launched a new high-end car called the Phaeton, which would become one of the least profitable models in the European industry, with losses estimated at 28,101 euros per unit sold. What went wrong? Marketing. The brand did not know how to position the product or convince its potential target audience. The key would have been to market it as a separate brand, the same strategy that Toyota followed with Lexus.
This case shows that even good products can fail if they are not supported by a good marketing strategy . Creating a product is a big step, promoting it is the next. That is why, if you want to open a business , you should be aware of the importance of marketing for entrepreneurs .
What are the benefits of marketing for freelancers?
Know the market better.
Every marketing strategy for entrepreneurs begins with a market analysis, which will allow you to gather the most important data about your sector and the competition. You will be able to discover neglected niches that you could enter, maximizing the chances of success and minimizing the risks . You will also be able to find out if your product or service has a potential market and how much consumers would be willing to pay, so that you can form a clearer idea of the investment you need to make.
Segment customers.
Thanks to marketing, you can get to know your buyer persona . Not only will you be able to know their age, gender and socioeconomic status, but also their needs, tastes, desires, preferences and purchasing behavior. With this data, you can better segment the public that could buy your products or hire your services, so that you can build a much more effective personalized message .
Building a personal brand
A branding strategy , in line with your marketing actions, will allow you to differentiate yourself from the competition and provide additional value with which you can better position yourself in the market . You will have the opportunity to transmit a clear and coherent message in the online and offline environment that consumers associate with the brand values you want to promote.
Promote your products/services.
Marketing will help you attract new customers and increase sales . With online marketing, for example, you can attract potential customers who are interested in your products or services and then carry out lead nurturing to build loyalty. Other marketing strategies, such as cross-selling or up-selling, will help you increase sales quickly by simply changing your offers or presenting them differently.
Invest smarter.
Many of today's marketing tools allow you to measure campaign results in real time, so you can make strategic decisions quickly , whether it's reorienting advertising investment or changing creatives. This way, you'll get the highest possible return on investment.
Don't forget that marketing is innovation, imagination and experimentation. There are no magic formulas, you will have to try different strategies and communication channels until you find the solution that gives you the greatest profitability.