In just a matter of days, 2016 will be upon us, and the slate will be wiped clean.
Those failures of 2015? Forget ’em.
In 2016, you can start anew. You can revamp your marketing strategies, fine-tune your budget and reposition your brand for more success and more sales in the coming year.
But exactly how do you do that?
Though every brand is different, here are a few mantras we typically follow when entering a new year:
Nix the same old, same old.
If you don’t want the same results as this year, you can’t very well use the same old strategies and methods, can you? To see different results – possibly better ones – you have to make a change. You have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone, try new things and reach parts of the market you never have before. Only through this will you see a true difference in your bottom line.
Try a new marketing platform.
Along the same lines, you should also consider trying a new marketing platform – not just new strategies and methods. Maybe that means simply getting on Instagram, instead of just Twitter and Facebook, or maybe it’s diving into a whole new CRM solution that automates your customer journey. Whatever it is, getting your brand out there in a new and unique space will open countless doors for the future.
Check in with your customers.
Don’t just dive into 2016 thinking your customers are in the same head space as 5 years ago. Take time to check in with your customers. Do some market research, find out what their needs are, and discover what hurdles they’re currently facing. Then analyze whether your company is still meeting those needs and helping them overcome those hurdles. If it’s not, you may need to pivot your strategies to better hit those customer pain points. After all, that’s how you draw in new business and keep old customers coming back for more.
Consider a new product.
How long have you been selling the same product or the same services? 10 years? 20 years? 50 years? Maybe this year, it’s time to add to that offering. Consider venturing out, and releasing a new product that complements your existing services. If you provide aviation interiors, for example, maybe you can also start offering electronics, like in-seat TVs, audio sets and more. Or if you offer autopilots, maybe you can also venture into installation – giving customers not just a product they can use but get help implementing and outfitting those products as well.
Plan content (and lots of it).
These days, it’s all about content. Blogs, white papers, e-books, articles and even just social media postings are huge marketing drivers nowadays, and they’re responsible for a large chunk of new leads, customers and sales for most big companies. If you’re not already focusing on content, make 2016 the year to do so. Hire a staff or freelance writer, and start planning a strategy for your content ASAP. Think about what information your customers may need in their buying journey, and make plans to produce that content and help them along their way.
Hone your industry connections.
We might be in a digital and tech-heavy world, but good old face-to-face connections still matter – especially in the aviation industry. Set aside some time in the early months of 2016 to check in with your industry connections, whether it’s been a month or 10 years since you’ve talked to them. Find out what they’re doing, where they’re headed and what their needs are, and see if you can help each other out in any way. Who knows, they might actually need your brand’s services in the coming year! And if they don’t, they very well may know someone else in the industry who does, and that could mean a new customer and another long-term ambassador for your brand.
Attend at least 5 trade shows.
Get that trade show calendar ironed out, and plan to attend at least 5 events in the next year. Make sure they’re applicable to your brand, but don’t just attend the same type of show over and over again. Try to branch out a little, and make connections with people you wouldn’t normally come in contact with. These may be your key to reaching a new part of the market you never knew existed!
Call a consultant.
If you’re not sure what direction to head in next year, there’s no shame in calling in an outside party. In fact, it’s actually a great move. A third-party consultant can look at your brand in a removed, unbiased way, and they can also analyze it in light of industry trends and changes. It can be a great way to get advice on moving forward, making changes and spending your budget in the coming year.
Want your aviation brand to see more success in 2016? Let Haley Aerospace help. Our aviation marketing experts can recommend strategic moves that can bring in leads, encourage sales and inspire change. Contact our team today to learn more.
