One of the most difficult feats to master within any office environment is to maintain the proper level of motivation. Without this tangible emotion, productivity will quickly grind to a halt and employees will begin to lose their interest. The good news is that there are many ways to counteract this situation. One interesting idea to consider is to market new products or services in the coming year. Let us take a look at the logic behind this type of strategy before examining some of the ways in which it can be implemented when time is of the essence.
Why Market New Products?
Employees require challenges on a regular basis if they wish to maintain a competitive edge. This type of atmosphere is nearly impossible to achieve if they are forced to market the same products for months or even years at a time. Let us also keep in mind that the chances are high that revenue generation will likewise fall; there are only so many customers who are willing to make repeat purchases. Much like the common expression, variety is indeed the spice of life.
Great business ideas require a great deal of insight. One of the most common mistakes which managers often make is to believe that the decision-making process should remain firmly within the higher echelon. In other words, employees are not allowed to provide any input in regards to what offers would resonate best with their audience. On the contrary, management should always embrace this type of insight if they hope to keep their finger on the “pulse” of modern sales and marketing tactics. Employees who feel that they are in the loop are more likely to develop a personal stake in future product promotions. This will result in higher levels of interest and naturally, sales should reflect such a trend.
The Question of Implementation
Let’s assume for a moment that you have undertaken several brainstorming sessions and you believe that you have found a viable product for the coming financial year. What is the next step to take? Contrary to popular belief, you should never jump in “head over heels” in regards to an entirely new marketing campaign. You will need to perform what is sometimes known as a litmus test in the business world. Compile a list of your most loyal clients and present them with the new products or services. Obtain feedback and objective opinions in order to determine if they are interested in what is being offered. Assuming that this demographic is representative of the larger customer base, the information obtained will prove to be invaluable. Should the reaction be predominantly negative, do not view this as a discouraging situation. It should rather be interpreted as nothing more than constructive criticism. There are many times when an idea will need to be refined in order to produce the desired results.
Employee Involvement
Have your employees reach out to their respective client. This is essentially the second step towards developing a full-blown marketing campaign. In the same respect, determine the type of feedback that they receive. Ask employees (particularly those directly involved with B2C or B2B marketing campaigns for their honest opinions of the products. Do they have any suggestions for improvement or are they fully confident in regards to future success? As these individuals will represent an important ingredient of success, never take their opinions lightly.
Keep an Ongoing Monitoring System in Place
Another common fallacy is to believe that marketing and sales campaigns will not need to be modified over time. Modern customers are more fickle than ever before, so do not be overly surprised if a certain product fails to appeal over a lengthy time period. This is why taking a proactive stance is the best way to ensure that you remain one step ahead of the game. It is much easier to make changes on the fly when compared to hindsight alone. Furthermore, your employees will remain motivated and eager to determine any feedback that customers may have to give. Of course, this strategy should be used in conjunction with other methodologies such as ongoing sales, seasonal discounts and similar promotions.
Insight and Clarity Can Go a Long Way Towards Motivation
This is only one of the many ways in which you can maintain the motivation of all employees. A productive work environment is one associated with higher profit margins as well as lower turnover rates. It can still be argued that the most important step to take is to keep your workers in the loop at all times in regards to product promotions and what new items may be on the horizon. Companies which are able to embrace this approach are more likely to enjoy a predictable level of success now and well into the future.
