Estimates show that the average US company looses 15%-20% of its customer base each year, and half of the customers within 5 years of attracting them. Some industries including the automotive, airline, and telecommunications industry are doing significantly worse at a 40%=50% turnover in customers each year. Accenture Survey

The average company takes 2.5 months to develop and execute a marketing campaign. In a world moving in internet time, a company that takes more than a few weeks risks having old data and messages. Add to this, most companies are designed to operate departments independently for efficiency. Which means marketing processes tend to be fragmented and divided among multiple areas.

Total Integration

Integrating marketing, sales, and customer service for the total customer experience build long term brand loyalty and relationships. Unfortunately, over the past decade brand loyalty has declined due to:

• Staggering amounts of choices for consumers.
• Bombardment of advertising and marketing messages received.
• Increased customer sophistication
• Raised service value bar, where customers are less willing to settle for status quo.

Understanding Your Customer

Collecting customer data to better understand each customer and who is the most valuable. It must come from every level in the company, have real time access, and be turned into one consistent and coherent database. Data from: website, phone, stores, mail, purchased data, market research, etc. What happens if you don’t do this? Mis-directed campaigns, wasted marketing dollars, and the inability to measure the success or failure of your marketing campaigns.

Putting the info to Work

Never before has there been such a fast turnaround when it comes to innovation and discovery. Because of this fast pace, it has become more and more important to stay well informed. Being well informed about marketing is especially important. There are literally thousands of marketers out there who are competing with you for your customers' attention.

That means, after assembling the structure, you must put it to work. By being innovative in turning the information on your customers into custom marketing campaigns and differentiated sales and service, you will be able to drive continuous improvement and generate increased revenue. By being aware of changes, you can offer your customers the best service and product possible.

Tips to Stay Informed and on the Cutting Edge

• Understand your customer. Their wants and needs change over time. By keeping up with these changes you can adapt.
• Communication is key. The best way to understand your customer is by keeping communications open. You let them know what you offer and how it fits their needs. They contact you with problems, suggestions, or compliments. Tracking these comments and adapting to the wants and needs will make you successful.
• Understand Your Resources. New marketing tools, communication mediums, and technology translate into new ways to get in front of your customer. It is important to continue to learn and develop these new areas. If you do not have the resources or talent in-house, contract out.
• Know your Competitors. This helps to identify trends or changes in the markets.

Remember that most customers don't just buy a product or service; they buy an IMAGE, which includes how they see you and your business.

Need help implementing a new sales or marketing program?  We've got two suggestions:

a) Check out our free marketing templates and tools on this site.  There's ton's of them.  You might want to bookmark the site now, you could be here awhile.
b) Have someone do it for you, check here for options http://www.mymarketingguide.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=24_32

Want more articles like this? 

Just become a registered member (it's free) of the myMarketingGuide.com website and you can download hundreds of other articles, templates and more.  Don't worry, we respect your privacy.

Have a marketing or technical question that just can't wait?

Check out our Instant Support Options-- Delivered over the Web:
a) Drop Everything Premium Support.  $75 (up to one hour of time)
We simply DROP EVERYTHING to assist you with your marketing or web problem.  Just use our Live Help button on http://www.mymarketingguide.com to get started.  Phone support is also available at $150 an hour.

b) Same Day Support Option $50 (Up to one hour of time)
This works the same way as our Drop Everything support but we will fit you in as soon as we can, but we will get back to you within 24 hours!

c) Email Support Option $25 an issue (Upfront payment required)
Using this option you can get a fast (up to 48 hours) reply to your How do I...? email.  Great for people that want a professional and well researched answer without the hassle of finding it themselves.

Other Questions?  Call us at 888-215-0820 or drop us a note...