Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Purpose
Use this template to capture the key information that you need to develop a thorough
marketing strategy. Then use the information that you collect, along with other development
tools, to build your key marketing strategy.
1. Background ................................................................................................................2
2. Market ...........................................................................................................................4
3. Target Audience ........................................................................................................7
4. Competition ..............................................................................................................10
5. Offering ......................................................................................................................13
6. Messages...................................................................................................................16
7. Sales and Buying Process ....................................................................................19
8. Pricing ........................................................................................................................22
Page 1 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
1. Background
A. What business are we in? (What needs does our business meet in the
marketplace?)
(23 sentences)
Tom - Lead Generation & Marketing Delivery Company
Mack Building, delivering, and servicing high quality technology products to the
RV Marine, and University markets.
Steven - We help dealerships generate, cultivate and convert leads into sales.
We do this through online and offline programs designed to capture, engage,
cultivate and convert browsers into buyers.
We use a web platform rich with dynamic features that is geared toward
engagement through live chat. Our knowledgeable account managers are here
to drive the correct strategies for your business. Once we profile consumers we
use our marketing delivery system to keep them engaged with your brand, your
inventory and while promoting a specific revenue opportunity through the life cycle
of that consumer.
C.
Page 2 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
D. What are our business objectives over the next two years? Be as specific as
possible, and make sure to address the following goals:
Number of customers
Revenue
Profit
Market share
Tom - 306 customers
3.6M
No Idea of P&L
10%
Mack Keep the lights on and grow foot print in the RV space while looking at
other veridical markets to help the company gain stability.
Mack We were stuck in the classic web developer trap. We would win large
projects; hire expensive developers and once the projects where over we would
have to start again. We found the RV vertical market and started building and
selling products that we could offer everyone.
Steven - To make money in a scalable business models that does not rely on a
few single mission critical points of business.
Page 3 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
2. Market
A. What is the market opportunity? What is the market size? Be sure to look at
market size with respect to geography and to industry.
Tom 5k RV & Marine Dealers, I think we can own 10% of market share
C.
Page 4 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
D. What are the key industry trends that are fueling our success? What industry
trends can inhibit our success?
Tom Economic recession has made our pay for performance attractive. Lower
sales volumes will make our performance suffer.
Mack Performance based pricing for our RV dealers and Sullivan. The major
trend in the RV space is to cut cost. While universities are experiencing record
growth.
Paul Low sales, fewer qualified buyers, lots of used units on the market,
Channelblade acquired by parts company, other competitors suffering
E. What is the economic climate now and in the next couple of years? How will the
economic climate affect our business?
Tom Deepest recession in 90 years. Our business is well positioned because
there is little no economic risk with our offerings.
Mack According to the RVIA the RV market is going to continue to shrink the
rest of 2009. I think we can use this as a positive. We need to continue
performance based pricing and build footprint in the RV market. Once the market
begins to recover the RV dealer should increase budget.
Paul The economic climate will continue to be depressed and should fuel
dealers need for performance based pricing for services. The value for
qualified leads will remain high as well as the need for low cost targeted
marketing.
Steven - The RV industry is down 50% and not expected to see a recovery until
late 2010. This has both a positive and negative effect on our business.
Obviously the number of solvent dealerships and manufacturers is
reducing (correcting). This makes it hard to position ourselves as a priority
decision for dealers facing survival however, for those dealers who are
looking to reduce marketing expenses our performance based model is
well received.
Additionally, our competitors are likely feeling the same crunch as their customers
dissolve or change expenses. This represents unique opportunity to eat
their lunch when the market is down (grab market share) and as things
recover find ourselves in a position of market share leader.
F.
Page 5 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
Mack Yes Feb, March, and April are always hard months to pick up new
dealers because of the cycle of the RV dealerships. Much like a sleeping bare
that needs to eat after a long winter, dealers wake up and start doing shows.
Page 6 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
3. Target Audience
A. What market segments are we targeting (list segment name and characteristics)?
What segments are we not targeting?
Tom Currently there is no profiling or targeting
Mack We are targeting RV dealers that offer new and used RV for sales to
consumers. We are NOT targeting manufactures, suppliers, or campgrounds.
Paul - Today, we are targeting the owners and decision makers for RV/Marine
dealerships.We are not targeting consumers, camp grounds, suppliers or
universities.
B. What kind of audience are we targeting? What are its members' demographics and
psychographics (for example, what keeps them awake at night, including both
fears and opportunities)? List multiple audiences in order of priority.
Tom See above
Mack RV dealers are out core audience. The biggest fear for RV dealers is
financing. Not only consumer but also floor plan. The biggest opportunity is
market share. The smart rv dealer will pick up market share as his competitors go
out of business.
Paul The owners of RV/Marine dealerships want to drive dealership sales at the
lowest possible cost. That also bleeds into their needs and desire for low cost,
yet effective marketing. The traditional avenues for broadcast marketing is
expensive and takes resources that they do not necessarily have today.
Likely worries about floorplan, overhead, inventory turns, employee issues, sales,
revenue and profits
Page 7 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
C. What is our customers primary reason for buying or wanting to use our product or
service?
Tom Results driven services and flexible spending allow the customer to control
spending that is very attractive for most
Paul They wish to purchase high quality leads that have a high percentage of
closing. They do not wish to be on a fixed monthly expenditure. They want to be
in control of their expenditures. Dealers want sales!
Steven To increase lead captures and close rations while improving their
marketing presence on very controllable expense model
D. Why would someone prefer our offering versus that offered by the competition?
(You might want to answer the section on competition and then come back to this
question.)
Tom Better quality, more innovation, performance based pricing and
knowledgeable staff are driven to provide a customer centric experience
Mack The dealer understands what they are buying and can control budgets
Paul believe that dealers would want to use us because they perceive us to be
Risk Free. They also want leads that will turn into sales. I think that ultimately,
they will want our low cost and effective marketing and followup services as well.
Today, no other company in this market really provides the bundle of services and
products that we offer.
Page 8 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
E. Are there any issues or concerns that the target audience might have regarding
this type of product or service?
Tom Successful dealers must be engaged with our account mangers to drive
the correct strategies, not all customers will be or care to be
Mack Yes we might hurt the amount of form leads and phone calls that come in
off the website.
They may not be able to handle, process or manage the leads we send them
properly.
They may not be able to or do not actually manage the close ratio for the leads
we provide, therefore, we lose the value proposition.
They may not be able to give us the needed information: inventory, prospects,
sold clientsthere are physical communication constraints in the dealership and
our company.
Page 9 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
4. Competition
A. What categories of competition threaten our success? Label each category, and
identify its key characteristics. Prioritize the categories from greatest to least
threatening.
Tom Not sure what this means
Our competitors are: Interact RV, UVS, PSN and CB. Each competitor is pushing
hard on developing new software to win RV dealer business.
Paul Generic Lead Generation: typical website leads, mfg leads, etc= those
leads are not typically well followed up on, thus low closing ratios, thus devalues
what they may perceive that we send them and they may not want to give us a
try.
Email Marketing has not traditionally been a big budget or focus for dealers and
therefore may not value its importance.
Page 10 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
B. Which companies pose the greatest threat, and how do they differentiate
themselves? What strategic or tactical elements do they use that threaten our
success? List the strengths and weaknesses for each of these elements.
Tom UVS Provide network affiliation offering, this gives them access to large
market share, however we know how that can turn out.
Interact RV Provide 100% custom solutions, this is an attractive offering for
dealers, however this offering does not allow for large scalability
PSN Provide cheap out of the box, simple web solution, however, solution is not
flexible
Mack We need to treat each of them equally. Any of them can pop up and come
after us.
Paul We are our greatest competition! We do not market and sell well into our
markets at all. Our targeted markets do not know who we are and or what we do?
We are not a focused sales and marketing company.
I sincerely believe we have no competition in our markets. The markets just dont
know us!!
C. Which competitors have the largest market share within our target market
segments? Which competitors have the greatest visibility with our target audience?
Tom Not sure
Mack Not sure it is a split between the 4 major plays in the RV market
Paul RV Trader #1
Everyone else is a very distant follower by hundreds of dealers
Paul Metrics and $$ converted revenues to the dealership: gotta prove it!
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Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
E. What barriers to entry into the marketplace are we creating for ourselves?
Tom No marketing hurts dramatically
Steven unknown
Page 12 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
5. Offering
A. What need is our offering designed to fill? Identify the need for each target
audience.
Tom Leads make the world go round, improving closing ratios is the end all
goal
Paul We are filtering through leads and delivered high quality, targeted leads to
a dealership for their sales team to close.
Steven Capture & cultivate leads from online sources where the dealership is
typically weak on execution and management
B.
Page 13 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
What features and associated benefits does our offering provide? Identify features and
associated benefits for each target audience.
Tom Web Development - Intelligent web site that drives very dynamic marketing
message
Live Engagement engage the thousands of people that visit your online
dealership just like you would when they drive on your lot. Take serious buyers
from browsing and put them into a sales process within minutes. Get them on the
lot faster than your competitors.
Life Cycle Marketing - this system offers you the ability for dynamic one to one
marketing to your suspects, prospects or sold customers, keep your brand, your
inventory and market specific revenue opportunities based on their life cycle with
the dealership
Mack We give dealers a clear view of the ROI. They understand what they are
spending money on.
Paul We deliver leads based upon a pre-set qualification criteria: name, number
and unit id: we manage, filter, qualify and deliver leads
We do provide some limited email follow up for consumers that we engage with:
turn key email marketing
We do provide a website: web infrastructure that they dealer does not have to
directly pay for and the site just happens. No hassle or management required
Steven turn key web online marketing, virtual business development. Low cost,
high expertise and measurable value in the form of leads generated
Mack We can show dealers how many leads turned into sales.
Page 14 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
Mack Our pricing model is very different and our competitor are still trying to sell
websites
Paul none
E. What improvements can we make to our offering to better meet customer needs?
Tom Better online applications will enhance engagement with our customers to
prove our results
Mack We need to have some type of light CRM and an inventory connector.
Paul We must be able to prove our conversion ratios and thus our direct $$
revenue value to our dealer.
Mack CRM
National inventory portals
Inventory feeds (imports and exports)
Consumer profiling
SEO tools
Great looking websites
Social networking
Paul I honestly dont know and dont know if the dealers really understand
either.
I also think they would like us to be able to truly sell units for them and just send
them the margin on a unit.
Steven unknown
Page 15 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
6. Messages
A. What does each of our identified target audiences know and believe about us
today?
Tom Perception? We are website company that is expensive and charges too
Mack It is split some of our dealers loves and some feel like we took advantage
of them. Our reputation is starting to improve.
Paul The great vast majority of RV dealers do not know we exist. If by chance
they do, they think we are an expensive website company.
B. What is the single most important message that we must communicate to ALL of
our target audiences?
Tom Results driven
Paul We generate increased revenues for your dealership and our value is
great
C. What evidence can be used to support the claim that we make in our single most
important message?
Tom Higher than normal closing ratios
Mack We need to have our dealers support our message. For example we use
mrva and sold X amount of units.
Steven Measurable metrics (Google Analytics) for online and dealer information
on closes should give us a complete funnel perspective along with specific
customer testimonials
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Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
D. List the single most important message that we must communicate to EACH target
audience. (This might or might not be the same answer as in item A.)
Tom Same as B
Paul Same as B
Steven same
E. What evidence can be used to support the claims for each message listed in item
D?
Tom Performance based pricing, no contracts or terms mean we are serious
about delivering results
Mack testimonials
Paul They are happy because we do what we say and they convert a high
percentage of delivered leads into sales.
Steven Many happy dealers. They may have bought from us for different
reasons than we offer today. Currently happy with our program based on shift to
pay per lead and high customer service and attention.
Page 17 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
Paul Smart, market savvy, understand dealership challenges, care about their
revenues and are dedicated to that end. Loyal to Customer
H. What is the net impression about our company or offering that we want clients and
partners to take away after each interaction with our company?
Tom Great customer service and a feeling of true partnership
Paul Great Value and Great Service. Cant live without us.
Page 18 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
A. What is the process for selling our services or products (list the key milestones in
the process)? Do we use any of the following processes?
Direct personal sale
Direct online sale
Indirect through channels
Tom Identify prospects
Initial call to gauge interest
Set demo
Demo prospect
Answer questions
Close deal
Mack Identify new dealers. Most of the time we network into the dealership or
get a referral
Setup an online demo
Ask a lot of questions
Close the deal and get started
Paul All 100% direct sales via phone calls: mostly via associations
B. Who is involved, both from our company and from our sales channel partners, in
each step of the sales process?
Tom Sales rep and dealership principal
Mack Mack and Tom are on point. Tom then hands the dealers off to the team
Page 19 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
C. How does our target audience buy our type of offering? Is the purchase an impulse
buy or a planned purchase?
Tom Id say impulsethe dealer is looking for any help and can associate with
our offering
Mack The RV dealer shops us very hard. Most of the time they will look ant
Interact and PSN
Steven unknown
D. What purchase process steps do the members of our target audience follow?
Does this process vary based on the vendor that they select? If the process does
vary, explain how and/or why?
Tom Not sure
Mack It is import that once the demo is complete the salesman closes the deal
within a week. The sales process should be quick
Paul Calculate the risk, how can they quit if they dont like What do they have
to lose and what will it take to implement. How tight do they have to get with us?
Steven unkown
E. What buying criteria does our target audience use to select an offering?
Tom References are big, association and affiliations help, economic risk factors
have become very important
Mack The dealers want great looking and functioning websites. Backed with a
team of people that will help them sell RVs.
Paul What is my financial Risk and who do I know that uses you
Steven who do I know who uses this, will it improve my business, do I believe
their story?
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Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
F. What criteria does our target audience use when selecting a vendor or a
manufacturer?
Tom Not sure
Mack This is very much The Herd Mentality who is using us and how is it
going got that dealer. The dealer 20 groups play a very import role in the RV
dealer selecting a technology vendor.
Paul How much money can this relationship make me and what do I have to do
to manage the relationship? They want to most bang for their buck with no work,
relationship or risk
Steven unkown
Page 21 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
8. Pricing
A. How important is price in the decision process? (See the Sales and Buying
Process section above.)
Tom May be biggest factor
Mack Never sell to price sell to results. Our pricing model is perfect, let the
dealer make that call.
Paul I dont think Pricing is important it is about the value pitch and proof
B. What is our current pricing structure, including discounts, product options, rebates,
and so on? Do our customers understand it?
Tom Performance based pricing allows the customer total control of spending,
they only spend money with our company if they are happy to do so. Yes they do
Mack RV dealer defines budget. Over time it is our goal to grow that budget. It
takes some time to educate our dealers but once they understand it seems to be
an easy decision.
Paul $50 per delivered lead. Dealers understand itbut do not know or
understand what they get beyond a delivered lead.
Steven $50 per lead, flexible spending control. Direct relationship between
budget and leads.
C. Which of our competitors is considered the price leader? What does the price
leader charge for its offering? How does the price leader determine its price?
Tom Not sure if there is a perceived price leader in the market, most are static
charges for websites usually between $250 - $600 per month
Mack Everyone is around the same price 3,500 setup and 500 bucks per-
month. We are set up very differently.
Paul I dont know that there really is a true apples-to-apples competitor. I dont
think there is a price leader or one competitive leader in either market.
Page 22 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
Paul For our many competitors, the price ranges per offering
Leads; Redzia- $15
RV Trader- $400 +
Interact RV- $600+
Ultimate Video- $500 +
F. What tradeoffs of price or value, or of both price and value, do customers make?
Tom None with our company
Mack NA
Paul I think price first and then valuecheap but somewhat effective is better
than expensive but more value to the dealer Dealers have hard time quantifying
value
Steven none.
Page 23 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
Mack The dealer sets the budget so the price is off the table
Steven not sure. Converted customers seem to connect the value. Not sure
on new customers.
H. What service(s) do we currently include in the price of our product? What services
can we consider now and in the future?
Tom Website, Account Manager, Live Engagement, Marketing Delivery System
Future
National portal to include listings and expanded lead generation
True BDC support where we handle the leads internal for dealers
Consumer broker where we match consumers across our wide dealer network
Steven no
Page 24 of 25
Marketing Strategy Questionnaire
J. What industry trends are going to drive prices down? What industry trends are
going to drive prices up?
Tom More buyers, higher volumes could promote volume discounts
Less buyers, lower volumes made need higher prices to support P&L
Mack The RV industry is going to continue be very concerned with cost for the
next 2 years.
Paul I dont think the price is going to go up or downI think we will add more
value to the current pricing mechanisms.
Steven Competition matching offer will drive price down. Added value to
offering would drive price up.
Page 25 of 25