A marketing channel refers to the path or pipeline through which goods and services flow from a vendor to the consumer. It involves a set of interconnected intermediaries that help transfer ownership and distribution of products. Key factors in determining appropriate marketing channels include understanding the target audience, a company's capabilities, product characteristics, competition, and market conditions. Effective channels establish relationships, build trust, and meet customers where they are already engaged.
2. WHAT IS A MARKETING CHANNEL?
A marketing channel is a set of practices or
activities necessary to transfer the ownership of
goods, and to move goods, from the point of
production to the point of consumption.
An alternative term is distribution channel or 'route-
to-market'. It is a 'path' or 'pipeline' through which
goods and services flow from vendor to the
consumer. A marketing channel may include
several inter-connected intermediaries such as
wholesalers, distributors, agents, retailers.
5. KEY FACTORS
1. Know Your Target Audience
2. Create Relationships & Build Trust
3. Go To Where Your Audience Already Is
6. MARKETING MIX 4PS -> 4 CS
Product Commodity
Price Cost
Place Channel
Promotion Communication
consumer-oriented model
7. CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPRIATE
MARKETING CHANNELS
Traditional Media
Newspaper/Magazine Advertising
Outdoor Advertising (i.e.; Billboards, Bus Boards)
Direct Mail
Public Relations (News & Interest Publications)
Telemarketing Outbound call campaign
Online
Online Advertising (News & Interest Websites)
Public Relations (News & Interest Websites)
Links on Partner Websites
Email Marketing eNewsletters / eBlasts
Opt-in Tools on Websites and Micro-Sites
Search Engine
Marketing (SEM)
Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Social Media
Blogs/Forums
Professional and Social Networks
Webcasts
Surveys
8. CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPRIATE
MARKETING CHANNELS
Mobile
Text Messaging
Mobile Applications
Live Networking
Events
Speaking Engagements
Participate! Provide & Gain Information
Qualify leads by asking questions
Take notes - Follow up with a personalized message
Partner & Customer
Co-Marketing Efforts
Partner with organization who share the same
target audience
Referrals
Compassion
Marketing
Associate your company with non-profits and interest
groups that your audience has a passion for
Sponsorships
Co-Marketing Efforts
11. CRAFTING YOUR MESSAGE
Evaluate how your existing customers came to be
your customers
Develop your elevator pitch using the key benefits
of your product/service
Personalize your message to your various
customer segments and their sales cycle stage
Your objective...
Create Relationships and Build Trust
Problem to Solution story-telling
Share valuable information
12. GATHER INTELLIGENCE
Define your current customer base and
model your target audience from your
existing customer profile.
What type of person/company buys your
products?
What customer segments are your
most-frequent & most profitable?
Assess target audience
demographics & psychographics
Age, Education Level, Home Value, Family
Position, Gender, Interests
What challenges/opportunities do they have?
13. ASSIGNING RESOURCES
Follow up with every qualified lead
Active participation within each lead generation
channel
Assign budgets/personnel
If resources are limited, prioritize channels and focus on
the best performing channels
Dont get spread so thin that youre not able to actively
participate within each channel