Marketing for the Confused Beginner

Marketing techniques have changed drastically in the past twenty years.

Posting physical advertisements and posters has become a thing of the past.

Today, billboards are technological and advertisements are able to be viewed on mobile devices.

But, the principle remains.

Marketing is more than just pictures and words sent out into the universe to generate revenue.

It's about branding, networking, evolving, growing. I know, you're wondering what my point is. Well, I'm merely trying to point out the important aspects of marketing for you and help you understand WHY it makes a difference.

Let's pretend there is a small restaurant near you called Antonio's. Antonio's is brand new and has never dealt with the hiring and firing process let alone the marketing process.
He doesn't understand the importance of knowing audiences, gearing marketing strategies, logos, networking, and so on and so forth.

Antonio makes flyers for his opening debut.
Each flyer is a different color and has a different photo of him cooking.

He thinks this is a great way to draw in a crowd and advertise his business. On the night of his opening, two couples came in for dinner, all night.

I'm here to tell you what could have improved the outcome of this scenario. First and foremost, online marketing is essential for new businesses.

People want to see a website.

They want to be able to visualize themselves in an establishment and have confidence in a business.
Antonio should have considered utilizing social media marketing in addition to investing in a top-of-the-line website.
Social media platforms are an essential aspect to networking and bringing in new customers/clients.
Now, let's talk about the flyers.

. The problem with using different colors and different pictures on every flyer is this...
BRANDING.

For branding, that was a terrible decision. A business must stick with one branding image- to create a lasting impression. When you think of Starbucks, what comes to mind? Yes, that logo. The green woman.
Now, anytime you see that logo you immediately know what business is being advertised.

How about Facebook? The blue square with a lowercase, white "f".

Every time you see that logo, you know the topic is Facebook. This concept is imperative.

Establishing a logo and a brand image is one of the first steps to forming a phenomenal business.
Antonio should have came up with a unique, fun branding concept and implemented it on all of his flyers! Also, he should have used this branding image on his new, exciting Social Media platforms, his new website, and incorporated it into his physical restaurant.
I realize these are small, seemingly insignificant notions. But, in reality, they make a difference.
Stay tuned for more marketing tips and hypothetical scenarios!