Marketing Mix: P is for Product


This is the 2nd installment in my series Marketing Mix 101.  Refer to my previous post The 4 P's of Marketing for a quick overview of each element.  I will begin with the first P...Product.  What are you selling (or what service are you providing)?  The answer isn't simply jewelry, baby clothes, or hair bows.  It is a lot more than that.  Your product includes both the actual, tangible item you create and sell, but also includes intangible items such as:
  • features
  • customer service
  • packaging
  • quality
  • emotion
Let's pretend you sell hair bows.  These are the components of your product based on the list above:
  • The tangible product: Hair bow
  • Features of the product: fabric, embellishments, the clip, the style, the size
  • Customer service: how quickly you respond to a prospective customer's email or question on your FB page, how well you take them through the order / delivery process, the after delivery service you provide
  • Packaging: how is the hair bow packaged, are the packaging materials sufficient quality and eye-pleasing, how does the physical package look when the customer receives it and opens it
  • Quality: the hair bow's durability, does it stand up to normal wear and tear by a young child, what you do if the bow breaks, is the clip comfortable for a little girl's head
  • Emotion: the benefit your customer receives, how Mom feels when her little princess is wearing your bow, how the little girl herself feels while wearing it
All of these factors...
must be taken into consideration when selling a product.  Ask your customers to fill out a survey if you are unsure if the packaging is adequate, or if the bow fulfills its purpose.  You can simply place a short survey in the box, with a stamp of course, and ask for them to return it.  Perhaps you can add a survey to your FB page or Etsy site.  Your goal isn't simply getting a sale.  It's taking the customer through the entire sale process from first inquiry to product delivery...and beyond.  This is what will cause them to remember you, and order again.  After all, you not only want one sale, you want repeat customers, and focusing on all the elements of a product will help you get them.

8 comments:

Rebecka said...

voiceBoks follow GFC...have a great week!

Nan @ Playful Decor said...

Hi Tracy, These are great tips and you're on my radar for guest blogging. More on that later. I just wanted you to know we received a "Thank You" from the Miracle Makeover program for your comment. Here is the link: http://playfuldecor.blogspot.com/2011/08/miracle-makeover-appreciation.html#more
Thanks again for participating!

Terri said...

Great tips I'm going to add a survey to one of my sites and see what they would like to see more of. Thank you for that idea.

Minta's Creations said...

Just became your newest follower.stopping by from Makobi Scribe blog hop. would love it if you decided to follow back.
Minta
http://www.mintascreations.blogspot.com/

Mike @ JustFindIt4U said...

New follower from the Moody hop, Liked you on Facebook too!

Shannon Milholland said...

You know I haven't thought of my writing as a product but it is. Now I need to think through your steps. Great post!

Amy said...

Thanks for linking up for the Wednesday blog hop! Following back.

Tracy said...

Thanks for the comments! Yes, writing is a product...I think everything we put on our sites is part of our product...anything can bring people in or turn them away. I will check you all out this week if I'm not already a loyal follower ;).

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