Launching a new product demands strategic planning, creativity, and an understanding of the ever-changing marketing landscape. The success of your product launch depends on more than the quality of the product; it also depends on having a strong brand with a supporting marketing plan that captivates the target audience and propels the brand into the spotlight. In this blog, learn about the 7 essential marketing steps to help you create a successful product launch.
STEP 1: Build a solid brand foundation
A strong company starts with a solid foundation from which to build the brand. In other words:
- Ensure there is not a name conflict with your business name.
- Create a strong identity with your logo and consistently utilize it in the same fashion.
- If appropriate, create a corporate identity with divisional names and logos for each product line.
- What is the strategy for business growth? Is your strategy based on market research?
STEP 2: Create signage to share your message
Carry your brand across all markets via your signage clearly and consistently.
- If you utilize branded vehicles as a moving billboard – are they conveying the right message? Do they meet the appropriate size specifications?
- Your products present real estate for showcasing your company brand. Are you smartly utilizing that space?
- Your social media cover images and email headers also offer real estate for consistently presenting your brand.
STEP 3: Bring your story to life
To bring your story to life, incorporate photos that professionally showcase your company. You’ll want to identify key areas of your business.
- Create a storyboard that outlines the story to easily enlist the help of your staff and your marketing support to ensure no key points are missed.
- A professional photo shoot allows you to showcase your products or services in a professional manner.
- Consider the use of a professional voiceover for commercial purposes.
STEP 4: Build your online presence
It’s important to consistently integrate your company brand online, both visually and in your content messaging.
- Ensure your website is mobile-responsive.
- Apply your brand to each social media channel you are integrating into your marketing efforts.
- Have a plan for updating your site on an ongoing basis.
STEP 5: Create marketing collateral
Ensure your marketing materials and advertising describe your services and help your sales staff tell your story.
- Ensure your materials are professionally produced, both online and in print. These materials might be a potential client’s first impression of your business. Make it a good one!
- Determine what type of communication you will use to sell your product. Will you integrate a system for business letters of introduction and stay in touch with digital marketing?
- Do your print and/or online ads have appropriate calls to action?
- Incorporate QR codes into your marketing collateral for increased engagement from your audience.
STEP 6: Put together your tradeshow toolbox.
You’ve invested time and money into developing your booth space and now the show is quickly approaching. Are you ready?
- Does your booth portray your brand and look professional?
- How are you going to drive traffic to your booth?
- Do you have a strategy for a giveaway?
- Are you prepared to ask open-ended questions that lead to warm leads?
- What will your next step be after the trade show? Do those leads go into a draw, or do you have a process in place to follow up and close business?
STEP 7: Make the most of your brand.
After all your hard work investing in your brand and brand exposure, it’s important to plan strategically for your business growth. Here are several actions to keep in mind:
- Form aligned strategic partnerships.
- Reflect any service or product changes in your marketing.
- Develop your advertising message, including a strong call to action.
- Determine which advertising channels are appropriate for your company.
- What is the role of social media and digital marketing in your business growth?
- Determine what trade shows you will participate in.
Our clients often ask us how to plan for their business growth. As part of a strategic marketing plan, we work with small businesses to analyze the state of current business and goals for growth. You can view a case study representing the work of Edmiston Group for a product launch for MEI Cybercorp here.
These seven steps are guidelines for a successful product launch. If you need help with honing your brand or crafting your marketing plan for your new product launch, the Edmiston Group can help. Call me at (724)612-0755. Part of being successful is knowing where you want to go and how to get there. Together, we can make that happen.
About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.