My friends at Chief Marketer have run another one of my pieces on the power of measurable marketing copy that I think you’ll enjoy. The piece was written exclusively with YOU in mind.

Grant A. Johnson
Johnson Direct LLC
1-800-710-2750

Does your copy evoke anger among readers/viewers/listeners? Perhaps it should. That’s the subject I wrote about in a recent Chief Marketer piece.

Grant A. Johnson
Johnson Direct LLC
1-800-710-2750

The Economy & Marketing Today
A Candid Letter

Dear Colleague,

If this economy has you frightened you are not alone. Times are tougher today than in recent memory: prices are rising, stocks are falling, companies are cutting back and things seem dire. As someone who relies on marketing to help get the word out about your products and/or services, what’s the best approach?

An Enduring Message
+
Offer Testing
+
Precise Measurement
+
Decisive Action

I know, easy for me to say as I hope to earn some or more of your business. But the fact is I don’t want you to give me your business. I want to earn it. Even if you don’t contact me, please apply the courageous strategies and tactics above to your marketing … ASAP.

Now or Later; More or Less?

So, should you be marketing now, or later, less or more … or the same as last year? The answer is: it depends. What are the competitor factors for you, do you have a real advantage, what do your customers and prospects look like and how are they really affected by the economy and what are your goals? But, most importantly, will your marketing be cost effective?

I don’t know as we’ve yet to talk. What I do know and will share are some very recent results we’ve achieved in a less than stellar marketing economy:

• A non-profit who garnered a 14.3% donation rate to an emergency appeal
• A gourmet food client that saw their average order increase by 13%
• The successful multichannel launch of a high-end continuity club, making them the fastest growing club in their segment
• An insurance client who is getting a better than 5% buy rate for a high monthly premium product
• A BtoB client that is opening new categories and has revenue growth of 58.7%
• A new product launch where ROI was 11 to 1

What’s the secret?

“Marketing that’s measurable”. And testable. And that works hard by understanding client and prospects wants, needs, attitudes and behaviors.

Yes, the choice to pull back, increase or keep your marketing spend even is critical and needs to be based on your goals. Can marketing work for you today? Most definitely. Will you fail? I hope so, to a small extent, but not critically. You have to fail to learn and grow. The key is to apply what you discover to your next marketing program.

It’s easier to invest in marketing when things are going well, but it’s also harder to differentiate yourself. Where do you want to be next year? Perhaps we should talk?

Yours truly,

Grant A. Johnson
President
Johnson Direct
800.710.2750, ext. 131
www.johnsondirect.com

Now that the presidential nonsense is over in the US, advertisers will  begin to panic as they will not have the ad revenue generated by both parties and their respective groups to rely on.With the change in  leadership also must come a change in marketing thinking.

As things continue to soften, smart marketers are changing their messaging platform in order to deal with the slower economy. The Wall Street Journal goes into some detail on how some brands are adapting. Are you testing your messaging and changing with the times?

Grant A. Johnson

Johnson Direct LLC

1-800-710-2750