Market Segmentation
HubSpot has evaluated the market and classified it into different segment profiles: Marketer Mary’s (MM’s) and Owner Ollies (OO’s) as well as B2B and B2C. The case highlights that B2B companies derive greater value from inbound marketing in comparison to B2C companies for a number of reasons. Firstly, B2B companies’ products are more complex and thus they require in-depth product specification and explanation, e.g. tutorials and blogs. In addition, since their customers have a longer decision making cycle, B2B companies are more selective about whom their sales forces focus on. Thus B2B companies also benefit from the lead qualification analysis that HubSpot provides. Consequently, they have a much lower churn rate than B2C companies– 3.3% vs. 6.0%.
HubSpot has also made a distinction between small business owners, the “Owner Ollie” (OO’s), and the marketing professionals for bigger firms – “Marketer Mary”(MM’s). OO’s are usually small businesses with 1-25 employees and account for 73% of the generated sales. Their demand is fairly simple - they want simple solutions that will not take much of their time, since they have to manage all the different areas of the company. Also, OO’s have little knowledge regarding Web 2.0 and thus inbound marketing can have a bigger initial impact on these businesses. 13 % of OO’s host their websites on the HubSpot Content Management System (CMS), whereas only 2% of MM’s do so. MM’s are marketing professionals working in
In order to effectively undertake market research on customer behaviour; such as expected prices, how they react to certain methods of research and what kind of care do the customers expect after the purchase is made, it would be best to use observation along with focus groups. Surveys, if used, should be done face to face by door knocking as it is more convenient and has a high response rate. The survey should include quantitative and qualitative type’s questions in order to get a `broader view of the customers’ behaviour. Questions could include “What do you think affects your behaviour
Marketing Analysis: Be our guest is an established service sector business. The company rents party equipment to other businesses and individuals for varied occasions, such as marriages and parties, which makes the demand for it being cyclical. The company is known for the high quality equipment they deliver and the extra ordinary services they provide in comparison to their competitors. Over the last three years from 1994 to 1997 the net sales for Be Our Guest have increased by 11% in 1994-1995 then by 9% in 1995-1996 and by another 23% from 1996-1997. There are number of factors causing this rapid escalation in sales. Having a strategy of providing high level of service and quality developed long-term relationship with the clients. Furthermore, those loyal and satisfied customers’ help in the promotion of the business as new clients come from a word of mouth of existing clients.
M2 – Analyse the marketing opportunities and challenges faced by a selected business when using internet marketing.
Both Halligan and Shah realized the true potential of internet and visualized the impact of internet in transforming small businesses. After graduation, Halligan took up a position in sales and marketing and worked for high-tech companies. Shah took up a position in technology companies before starting his own company called “Pyramid Digital Solutions.” Halligan soon realized the traditional sales and marketing techniques also called “outbound marketing” were not working out for small companies. The outbound marketing techniques favored big companies and it was increasingly difficult for small companies to compete against big companies. When Halligan and Shah founded HubSpot they created a marketing software that leveraged the Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, social sites, and search engine optimization (SEO) to help businesses relate to their customers.
For a long time now, we have managed to create a market monopoly through specialization in the provision of quality digital marketing solutions to startups and already established business enterprises. We boost of skilled personnel who embrace top end designs, detailed research and personalized content thus creating not only effective but also potent integrated web systems for your progressive business through lead generation, content creation and inbound marketing.
Buyer power is the power a potential customer has in choosing different options. Given the amount of competitive businesses in the area, buyer power is high. This will directly impact UMUC Haircuts competitive advantage strategy, because it allows customers to choose the most cost effective option.
In business and marketing world, with an incessant competition, to find what customers need is one of the most key things that a company needs to identify. However, customers in the market are different in both physics and mental. Thus, customer segmentation is needed in order to create and focus the firms’ suitable strategies. Nowadays, ethical consumption is getting more interested by some customers. With a rising concern of ethical customers, it is important for the firm to understand these customers and develop strategies to serve their need (Peattie, 2001). As supported by Pedersen and Neergaard (2006), the firms have to adjust themselves in coherent with customer ethical consumption as more people are expected the firm to act ethically (Creyer & Ross Jr, 1997). As a result of serving these needs, firms’ ethical behaviour perceived by customers could produce a positive image to company as well as sales (Mohr et al., 2001). Also, as revealed by Becker-Olsen (2006), 80% of respondents in the study said that firm should engage in CSR activities, and believe that it will benefit the firm. Moreover, as reveal in many studies which will be discussed in the literature review chapters, more people is showing intention to ethically consume as a reward to the positive behaviours of firms, and will avoid any product that unethically produced. However, the ethical intention doesn’t always transform into actual behaviour. As revealed by Brey et al.
As I reflect back over these last five weeks I now have a clearer view of marketing and how it affects not just the consumers of the world and the companies with their marketing managers, but how it affects me. Yes, I am a consumer who clips coupons, budgets my finances, and looks for sale items and this marketing class has taught me that marketing is more than selling or advertising. Marketing managers have a difficult job, as marketing involves identifying, meeting and satisfying the needs of customers or clients with goods and or services. Coming up with different strategies and marketing mixes is challenging because we live in a changing world with people who needs and financial situations are different. Yet still marketing engulfs every part of our daily lives. From what type of breakfast we eat, to where we shop, and even in our work environment. As I examine marketing, I will blend aspect to my career path as I make myself marketable for the future and aid my employer in the growth and survival in the economy.
HubSpot is a web-based software company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that helps businesses succeed in the digital age by eliminating the mismatch between shifting consumer trends and traditional outbound interruption-based marketing methods. The problem with the latter method stems from many having learned to effectively tune these out. HubSpot’s core competency stems from their powerful, easy-to-use, and integrated set of applications that businesses utilize to capture key customers through inbound experiences that are personalized, helpful, and relevant. While HubSpot operates as a marketing automation software firm, it doesn’t fit neatly in the online marketing space as do traditional companies such as Eloqua and Marketa (Case: Exhibit 4). Nonetheless, the company delivers a user-friendly and complete marketing platform that helps their customers get found, generate relevant leads, then nurture these leads until they’re ready for sales.
variables that occur in each stage. Provide an example of a product or service that
A company issues a check for $58 but records it as $85. On the bank reconciliation, the $27 error should be
Internet marketing is relatively inexpensive when compared to the ratio of cost against the reach of the target audience. Companies can reach a wide audience for a small fraction of traditional advertising budgets. The nature of the medium allows consumers to research and purchase products and services at their own convenience. Therefore, businesses have the advantage of appealing to consumers in a medium that can bring results quickly. The strategy and overall effectiveness of marketing campaigns depend on business goals and cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis.
To know the impact of marketing investment: With the help of an accurate data, one can predict the output or significant and measurable performance impact in future of marketing investments made today. This helps in predicting whether the marketing plan is worth investing in or not and can save millions of dollars for a company.
Like B2C sites, B2B sites must also have a good understanding on the target market they are attempting to reach, but B2B marketing is more focused on relationship building than transaction building like B2C sites. Additionally, "the business buyer is sophisticated, understands your product or service better than you do, and wants or needs to buy products or services to help their company stay profitable, competitive, and successful" (http://www.vista-consulting.com/marketing-articles/b2b-b2c-marketing.htm, 2006). Furthermore, the visitor to the B2B site might not be the actual buyer, but a member of the decision making team. Thus, B2B sites must fulfill the needs of the researcher' who may be just wanting to locate detailed information about the product, long-term customer care, and the financial stability of the B2B (Grove, 2005). And, in most cases, B2B site's target market is smaller and well defined versus the B2C target market. For B2B sites, they are building their customer base on long-term relationships, trust, and commitments not on the number of
In the realm of the business world, there are many industries that offer to provide products and services to their customers. In addition, each industry has a list of firms that that specifically provide consumers with their needs and wants. The soft drink industry in particular, includes carbonated beverages, juice, bottled water, ready-to-drink tea and coffee, and sports and energy drinks. To understand how well the industry is doing, strategists must analysis the industry and help determine what factors are affecting profits.