Is your marketing still on target?

In a recent webinar, hosted by our educational division, Credit Union Marketing University, listeners found out that 4 in 10 Baby Boomers will live to the age of 120! Egads!!! With improved technology and focus on living a healthy lifestyle, we knew this day would come sooner or later. But, imagine how this could change the face of financial decisions with millions of Boomers left to deal with how to stretch their retirement income well beyond their expectations. To find out more, listen to the full recording of the webinar by
clicking here.

With the impact of different demographic groups (such as the Boomers) and tough economic times, is your marketing still on target? Read on for helpful tips to spice up your marketing efforts for work, online, and in your personal career.

Do you find value in our tips? Don't forget to let your friends, colleagues, and other marketing professionals know. Simply reply to this email or copy us on your email to your new subscriber and receive a sweet treat when he/she signs up for our E-Tips.

Best regards,

Nicolette Lemmon, President
LemmonTree Enterprises, Inc.
LemmonTree Marketing Group
A division of LemmonTree Enterprises, Inc.

GENERAL MARKETING TIP

Fine-tune Marketing Efforts with an Objective Audit

When is the last time your marketing machine was analyzed? Does your marketing "engine" need a tune-up? If you are counting on growing your bottom line, make sure you have a well-oiled marketing machine.

As an example, with Boomers far outlasting past generations of retirees, you certainly want to make sure your marketing is working to engage this "Peter Pan" generation.

One way to give your marketing a tune-up is to use a Strategic Marketing Audit. Reviewing every aspect of marketing is important for all organizations, especially in troubling times. The best way is to have an outside agency provide an objective view that will really open your eyes to efficiently maximize marketing efforts, give you the confidence to implement a consistent marketing plan and provide the organization and focus you need to get your marketing on target!

Having created and used a Strategic Marketing Audit tool for many years, here are a few questions from the areas we analyze:

1. Situational Analysis - What major developments or trends will create an opportunity or threat? What is your market share for the geographic area where you operate? How many other competitors are in your same market and how strong are they in terms of size, customer base, and location(s)?
2. Strategy - Has management articulated a clear marketing strategy for achieving its marketing objectives in a plan? Is the strategy convincing? Is the strategy appropriate to the stage of the product life cycle, competitors' strategies, and the state of the economy?
3. Organization and Delivery Systems - Are the marketing activities optimally structured along functional, product, and customer/member segment lines? Is the organization structured to gather, generate, and screen new-product ideas?
4. Image - What is the customers'/members' knowledge and attitudes toward your organization's and competitors' product quality, features, styling, brand names, etc.? What areas of product strategy need improvement?
5. Physical Locations - How is everything from the staff to the promotional displays to the physical layout of your organization working in unison to strengthen the corporate brand image? Does that image work towards your corporate goals?

Want to know more about how you can benefit from an objective Marketing Audit at your organization? Visit us by clicking here or call toll free at 1.888.536.6243.

E-MARKETING TIP

Is your e-marketing on target?

Part of assessing your organization involves looking at customer/member behavior and improving every delivery channel. One of the most important channels in today's hectic world is e-marketing to your customer's/member's inbox.

Have you tested if your e-marketing is working in concert with your direct mail, advertising and public relations efforts? Do you know what is the most effective mix?

If you're not sure, here is a way to test. For your next promotion, send to three target groups. The first group will receive direct mail only. The second group will receive only an e-mail. The third group should receive both a direct mail and an e-mail about the promotion. Then, track to see which method generates more response.

Never assume you know because consumers are constantly changing their behavior as technology changes. Tracking with analytics and data-mining will help you uncover the right mix as you continuously tweak your marketing methods to produce results.

Need help really testing your e-marketing and other channel mix? Turn to our E-Marketing Department for information on web design, e-cards, banners, Flash videos and SEO/SEM solutions.

PERSONAL MARKETING TIP

Position Yourself for the Future

Okay - enough about work, let's get back to marketing the most important product of all…YOU! With a Personal Marketing Audit, you make sure that you are positioned for professional success. What is your own personal goal and object in your career? How are you making sure that you stay competitive and monitor you marketing efforts for effectiveness?

Whether you are looking for the next big promotion or hunting for a brand new job, make sure you are positioned as a valuable asset to your organization. What new experiences have you gained? What new skills are you learning to perfect? Are you continuously seeking new educational opportunities?

For more questions to consider, try a Personal Marketing Audit to position yourself for the future. A complete set of worksheets for your Personal Marketing Audit can be found in Almost Famous: How to Market Yourself For Success.

For more information you can purchase Almost Famous: How to Market Yourself for Success with a synopsis on CD by Nicolette Lemmon, by visiting our Lemmon-Aid Stand.