"I need More Traffic."
"I want More Sales."

That's the typical response to my query, "What can I do for you? What do you need?" It's the expected response to an obvious question.

Here's where it gets tricky: Marketing campaigns that really work are marketing strategies that measurably improve your bottom line, with emphasis on 'measurably'.

In order for us to demonstrate real improvement, we need baseline stats – the 'Before Picture'. And clients' 'Before Pictures' tend to be a little fuzzy. The goal for the 'After Picture' tends to be a bit fuzzy as well. We need to bring everything into focus. You need a marketing strategy.

Before embarking on any marketing campaign, we do need a strategy. Taken from the military, strategy refers to planning operations that put forces into the most advantageous position prior to actual engagement. In other words, you'll be more likely to succeed if you study the terrain, carefully designate your targets, anticipate the moves of your competition and plan your maneuvers before launching operations.

In theory, "Marketing Strategies" should not be a separate content area of this Web site. They're an integral part of any campaign to drive traffic and increase sales. Before initiating any marketing campaign, it's best to do some market research, analyze the competition, and have clear goals and measurable objectives in your marketing plan.

Marketing campaigns that really work achieve demonstrable, measurable results. They not only increase sales or traffic, they increase your ROI as well.