The heart of your business success lies in its marketing. But what actually constitutes 'marketing' can be a mystery if you're not not directly involved. The overall marketing umbrella covers advertising, public relations, promotions and sales. It is a process by which a product or service is introduced and promoted to potential customers. Your business may offer the best products or services in your industry, but without marketing, none of your potential customers would know about it.

For a business to succeed, the product or service it provides must be known to potential buyers, and you have to use marketing strategies to create product or service awareness. Once your company commands the attention of your prospective customers, it increases the chances of them becoming consumers. As awareness increases, it creates its own expansion as new customers spread the word and your sales steadily increase. Without employing marketing strategies, these sales may not have ever happened; without sales, a company cannot succeed.

Marketing builds brand name recognition or product recall, and the best type of marketing programme includes a mix of  different forms of marketing, such as website development, public relations, print and broadcast advertising, design and printing for all print materials, trade shows and other special events.

Many small businesses make the mistake of viewing marketing as something that's done sporadically, but for effective results your efforts must be continuous as well as targeted to the correct audience, via the correct media.  

Know what you want to accomplish through your marketing, know your target audience and know how to reach them and your marketing strategy will achieve it's objectives. 

Easy for me to say, I know a little about the subject. But the average small business owner often has neither the time nor knowledge to capitalise on or even identify the best marketing prospects for their company.

This is where our local Haverhill businesses come into their own! From a full agency service, to website development, point of sale promotional materials, printing, videos, branding and graphics; anything and everything you could need can be found right here at thebestof Haverhill!

The Design Office is a local creative agency working with small to medium sized businesses across a wide and diverse range of industry sectors. Offering a creative yet practical approach to branding and marketing communications, the team will guide you through the minefield of brand assessment, strategy and positioning, logo identity, website design and development and much much more. Their commercial photography service can help you grab the attention of your customers with visual images that instantly capture and project the essence of your business. They can manage your brand to ensure targeted and effective marketing activity. Their aim is to improve your business performance and help you stand out from the crowd.

If you really want to put your business in the spotlight, David Doughty @ The Gallery in Haverhill can do exactly that.Their commercial video production service can produce a video you can use on your website, in email campaigns, social media, blogs and ezines. A video offers a unique personal touch to your marketing message, and can significantly improve your rankings on search engines.  YouTube is the third most visited website in the world, and it's FREE! Your video can be put before over 800 million unique users who visit YouTube each month.

Video is portable, flexible and cost effective. You can connect directly to your target market using tags and descriptions with your video, making sure your message goes directly to the people interested in your produce or service. David and his team are experts in video production and the all important editing process that gets your message across professionally and effectively. 

There will ALWAYS be a place for the tried and trusted print media marketing. From leaflet drops to catalogues and brochures, through to quality business stationary, letterheads etc these are the day to day mainstay products that can cement your brand identity in the hearts and minds of your customers. Haverhill printers, Red Side Up have got it covered. With in-house digital printing and lithographic print services giving the highest quality at affordable prices,  they can help you with mailings and newsletters, menu's, price lists, booklets and business cards.  

With the emphasis on reliability and unbeatable customer service, Red Side Up promise you will never be disappointed with their services.

Trade Fairs and Exhibitions form a vital part of many businesses marketing and expansion plans and being placed side by side with your competitors and face to face with your customers means your display graphics need to stand head and shoulders above the rest. Stylize Display Graphics can give you exactly what you need to do just that.  Choose from an extensive range of large format print products that include display accessories and plinths, literature stands, modular and pop up displays, portable counters and pretty much any large format graphic display products. Stylize are true experts in all aspects of large format display graphics.

They can also apply vehicle graphics to cars, vans, motorbikes and 40 foot trailers!  Whether you require one vehicle to be liveried or the whole fleet Stylize can help. Other services include business and shop fascias, construction hoardings, pavement signs and plenty more besides!

And talking about large format display advertising, have you considered promoting your business and supporting our local football team at the same time?! Why not promote your company at the Haverhill Rovers Football Club ground at New Croft? With over 20,000 visitors a year, predominantly from the local area, outdoor advertising is a great way to increase your profile. Invest in a 12' x 2' 6" banner on the perimeter to the ground for a highly cost effective way of creating awareness of your company and services. The rental charge includes the cost of the banner; you just supply your own artwork. Other marketing opportunities at the club include team, matchday, player and tracksuit sponsorship packages.

Promote your brand on the move and on your workforce! KiiWii clothing  produce embroidered promotional clothing and workwear that can help your organisation to stand out from the crowd. T-shirts, fleeces, high vis workwear and much more, and importantly for the small business, there is no minimum order. Schmooze your business associates and customers with a huge range of promotional gifts, creating widespread awareness of your company name, brand and message to your chosen market.

You can even sweeten up your customers and corporate clients with a sugar hit! Cupcakes by Simone can provide regular or canape sized cupcakes, decorated to reflect your company branding or even featuring your logo! Whether you want to thank a trusted supplier or provide catering with a difference when you host a corporate event, these little delicacies are not only mouth watering but a unique talking point - and add a whole new meaning to the the phrase 'swallowed the advertising!'

All these companies are featured in thebestof Haverhill's Business pages, revealing more that they have to offer along with contact details. And remember - if your marketing is successful, your business is successful.