How to Jump Start Your Marketing

The new year has just begun and already you are probably experiencing new challenges. What worked last January might not necessarily work this January. And new competition has forced you to back off in some areas that were successful in the past.

How do you get off to the kind of start you want?

Here are a few ideas that you might try:

1. Look for openings ' many large retailers across a variety of industries from electronics, clothing, and toys loaded up their marketing budgets in the last quarter of 2012 in an attempt to cash in on Christmas shoppers. Because of that, there may be openings in the marketplace. Publishers may have fewer advertisers and are more likely to offer deals and discounts. Paid search competition will be lower and you can get clicks for less money than you would otherwise.
2. Run some tests ' early in the year is when you want to learn as much as you can about the traffic you're driving with your marketing efforts. Test a variety of messages, calls to action, landing pages, and prices. All the learnings you can get now will help you out for the rest of the year.
3. Cash in on New Years' Resolutions ' many consumers have made promises to themselves and people around them, and now is when you can take advantage of that. Gym memberships notoriously skyrocket in January. How can your business help people reach their goals? Answer that question for yourself, and then start marketing it in language that consumers will understand. (Hint: Making them feel guilty can work)
4. Just do it ' lots of marketers of lots of plans for the new year, but it's easy to put things off. January is when you should be taking action on all fronts. The easiest way to jump start your marketing is to get to work. Hesitation may sound easy, but it's a surefire way to slow growth and learn nothing about your business.

Good luck!