Do you want the opportunity to advertise your awesome product to more customers? Traditional methods like online ads, flyers, and commercials are often white noise to consumers. You will get more attention if you strategize to get face to face with shoppers and get your product in their hands.
Field marketing is an effective way of reaching a larger audience and creating a strong brand identity. And it gives your company more interaction with the public. You put your sales team in situations where they can explain first hand why your product can benefit buyers.
There are some techniques you can use to maximize your field marketing opportunities. You should strive to balance being impactful with being cost-effective. Here are five ways to improve your strategy and drive your sales goals.
1. Target Your Audience
One of the most important components of field marketing is selecting your target location and audience. It’s essential to have a clear definition of who you are trying to reach. And it’s smart to have a clear plan on where to concentrate your efforts. It will drive your plan and make your efforts more effective.
Selecting locations can be tough. Start with your product’s key demographic and their habits. Research locations that are popular with your target audience.
Retail stores are an obvious choice to market to customers. But seek out other opportunities to reach out to a crowd. Festivals and events are a perfect way to communicate your product to the maximum number of people in one location at once. And reach out to workplaces and colleges to see if you can partner with them to market to employees and students.
Think outside the box to expand your market. Finding ways to relate your product to new audiences will boost sales. And exploring locations out of your norm will give you the opportunity to tell a new audience why your product is great.
2. Create Awareness
Be creative with your guerilla marketing campaigns. Brainstorm ways to make your product information stand out. And consider how you can make the maximum impact.
Branded swag is a great option. Plus, you get the added benefit of exponential exposure. Hand out inexpensive giveaways like koozies and stickers. The more you can get your info out there, the stronger your brand recognition will be.
Create buzz for your brand at a low cost. Social media is the perfect place to spread the word. Imaginative and unique posts are more likely to encourage engagement and reposting.
The key to making this technique effective is grabbing a customer’s attention and leaving a memorable impact.
Regardless of your means of communication, make sure that your product and its benefits are clear. And that it leaves the customer with a positive feeling about your brand.
3. Engaging Demos
Demonstrations are an excellent way to share a product and explain the features and benefits. And they allow your company to engage with consumers. Just make sure to plan carefully to get the most from your demonstration opportunities.
If you are demonstrating a product and its uses, create a demonstration that relates well to shoppers. Show off the strongest features and why it’s better than competitors. The overall goal is to make potential buyers see why they need your product.
Customers often want to be sure they like a food or beverage item before making a purchase. Samples are the perfect chance to let shoppers try your product. Make sure you are prepared to answer questions about ingredients and nutrition. And make the benefits of your product obvious to samplers.
The most important factor in the success of a demonstration is the demonstrator. Hire friendly and outgoing brand ambassadors that will be likable to consumers. And make sure they can communicate clearly and answer questions well.
4. Strong Sales Team
Your sales team is your best resource. It won’t matter if you can reach consumers if your reps can’t make a sale. Make sure they are knowledgeable and motivated to work hard.
Whether they have experience or not, being driven is a big factor in being successful in sales. Look for sales reps that have the will to work hard to achieve big goals. Having this motivation will make them stronger employees that will make their best effort.
Product knowledge is the most important part of a sales rep’s job. Take steps to make sure your salespeople know your product well. Continuous education and training are essential in maintaining a knowledgeable sales team. A good sales rep will have a deep understanding of their product, as well as their competitors’.
Building relationships with customers is a beneficial tool in increasing sales. It not only motivates purchases but can generate repeat business. A shopper that has a positive relationship with a sales rep is more likely to be loyal to your brand. Train your sales reps in strategies for building these relationships.
5. Measure and Adjust
Being out in the field gives you a unique position to see your marketing at work. Use your retail presence to evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies. And adjust as necessary.
Have a clear, defined protocol when performing retail audits.
Evaluate your product displays and signage for maximum effectiveness. Work with your retailer to make your marketing more effective by asking for better product positioning. Don’t hesitate to change your strategy if your current retail system isn’t working.
Check out what your competitors are doing in the same retail space. Use the opportunity to compare prices. And see what they are doing to improve their product so you can stay ahead of the game.
Don’t be afraid to ask customers for feedback on your product. It’s a great way to look for ways to improve. And you’ll get a better idea of where you stand as a brand in the eyes of consumers.
Conclusion
Whether your product is new to the scene or well established, your brand identity is important. And developing a strategy to have meaningful interactions with customers is key to building loyalty and relationships. Having a physical presence in the retail space also gives you a good idea of how your product is being seen and presented.
With the number of products on the market, it takes being creative to make an impact. And it requires taking chances and being unique to stand out to consumers. Having the patience and ingenuity to develop a strategy that speaks for your brand will drive lasting results.