Integrated Marketing Communications
Posted 8th December 2014 at 06:43 PM by imarkedy
Integrated marketing communications can be defined as many things. However, very few marketing tools allow as many tools, file types as well as complete packaging as does business marketing with Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. Of course, this extends to Apple Presentations as well. Throughout this article, we’ll refer to business presentations so feel free to view what is written in light of either software program. Think of effective marketing communications as preparing to cook a pot of your favorite soup.
First, you gather the correct ingredients which will result in a great tasting pot of soup. Once these components are gathered, a cook must prepare them according to exact recipe specifications. Next, you fill a pot up with water and add the ingredients in their proper amounts and at the correct moment(s). After the soup has cooked a while, you to taste it from time to time to make sure the ingredients are blending together to yield a perfect result.
This accurately describes the process of formulating an effective marketing plan. The ingredients are different components whether video, business website, content, social media or even PowerPoint presentations. As with blending the ingredients into the pot, these components must coalesce to form a perfect marketing mix. Let's talk about, briefly, the most under-utilized but possibly most effective marketing communication tool available to business, entrepreneurs and professionals - business presentations.
Around 2009, we became aware of a business presentation sharing website located at Slideshare.net. Our PowerPoint designer found this site and although it was not as highly trafficked back then as it is today, our team saw the potential to drive massive amounts of traffic to our products and services through uploading and sharing each business presentation we created.
While some believe that PowerPoint presentations are mostly for internal communications, sales presentations as well as training purposes, there are very few of these presentations which don't hold the ability to be tweaked and shared with the general public to the direct benefit of an organization. We’d go further to say anyone not using every piece of content created (internally) to drive traffic to their business website is either ignorant of its value or incompetent. Of course, this view isn't directed towards those who already understand its value or on the road to the same.
Several years ago, one of our team members was invited to the Association of Gospel Rescue Mission’s annual conference to present a class on Internet marketing. A presentation was prepared and the class went very well. Although our presentation was specifically for the members of this particular association, we later released the presentation on the Internet, through social media sharing websites, to rave reviews! This particular Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 presentation had value beyond this particular conference and industry. We challenge our students and readers to search their hard drives for business presentations, white papers, college essays and other created content which can be used to drive website traffic results.
Although we've been using presentation sharing websites for more than five years now, there are other ways to share presentations to brand build.
Here are just a few content channels to share your presentation on;
1. Business presentation websites
2. Your business website
3. PowerPoint to video
4. Document sharing websites
5. Image sharing websites
This list could extend to include many more opportunities but the point is well made. As it concerns PowerPoint presentations being integrated marketing communications, except for a business website, what other form of communications can be as complete as is true of business presentations?
Here are just a few components which make business presentations almost as engaging as a website;
1. High definition images
2. Multimedia video
3. MP3 files
4. Direct calls to action
5. Hyperlinks embedded
Need we say more? The reasons for utilizing business presentations are numerous while the reasons not to do so are almost nonexistent. PowerPoint and Apple presentations have become such an integral part of business and management that professional designers command as much as $50 per slide created! Of course, that number can be much higher but the average freelance creator earns a pretty good living doing so.
High definition images set the overall mood and feel of presentations. Low-quality images kill a presentation’s credibility while high definition images better engage audiences. Multimedia video being included isn't only an option but in our opinion - a strategic imperative. As we teach all students in our business presentation design course, if using video embeds, make sure you have a copy of it on your hard drive. Low bandwidth, wireless outages, or other issues out of your control will happen during your presentation. However, you can control your hard drive so it is best to download a copy of the video as opposed to depending on a third party to stream.
Although we are not fans of including MP3 files in presentations (basic sound files), many people are and there are certainly appropriate reasons to do so. Nevertheless; it is important, as with multimedia video files, to control the asset and have a copy of it on your hard drive if doing in person presentations.
Although we deplore using decades-old clichés, one rings true; “there's never a second chance to make a first impression.” For those sharing presentations online, it is important to spend quality time creating your message and communication long before sharing it with others. Although this seems elementary, many seem to ignore this rule to their own peril. For any requiring proof of this reality, spend a little time on Slideshare.net.
Brian D. Dale
Marketing with Daily Deal Sites
First, you gather the correct ingredients which will result in a great tasting pot of soup. Once these components are gathered, a cook must prepare them according to exact recipe specifications. Next, you fill a pot up with water and add the ingredients in their proper amounts and at the correct moment(s). After the soup has cooked a while, you to taste it from time to time to make sure the ingredients are blending together to yield a perfect result.
This accurately describes the process of formulating an effective marketing plan. The ingredients are different components whether video, business website, content, social media or even PowerPoint presentations. As with blending the ingredients into the pot, these components must coalesce to form a perfect marketing mix. Let's talk about, briefly, the most under-utilized but possibly most effective marketing communication tool available to business, entrepreneurs and professionals - business presentations.
Around 2009, we became aware of a business presentation sharing website located at Slideshare.net. Our PowerPoint designer found this site and although it was not as highly trafficked back then as it is today, our team saw the potential to drive massive amounts of traffic to our products and services through uploading and sharing each business presentation we created.
While some believe that PowerPoint presentations are mostly for internal communications, sales presentations as well as training purposes, there are very few of these presentations which don't hold the ability to be tweaked and shared with the general public to the direct benefit of an organization. We’d go further to say anyone not using every piece of content created (internally) to drive traffic to their business website is either ignorant of its value or incompetent. Of course, this view isn't directed towards those who already understand its value or on the road to the same.
Several years ago, one of our team members was invited to the Association of Gospel Rescue Mission’s annual conference to present a class on Internet marketing. A presentation was prepared and the class went very well. Although our presentation was specifically for the members of this particular association, we later released the presentation on the Internet, through social media sharing websites, to rave reviews! This particular Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 presentation had value beyond this particular conference and industry. We challenge our students and readers to search their hard drives for business presentations, white papers, college essays and other created content which can be used to drive website traffic results.
Although we've been using presentation sharing websites for more than five years now, there are other ways to share presentations to brand build.
Here are just a few content channels to share your presentation on;
1. Business presentation websites
2. Your business website
3. PowerPoint to video
4. Document sharing websites
5. Image sharing websites
This list could extend to include many more opportunities but the point is well made. As it concerns PowerPoint presentations being integrated marketing communications, except for a business website, what other form of communications can be as complete as is true of business presentations?
Here are just a few components which make business presentations almost as engaging as a website;
1. High definition images
2. Multimedia video
3. MP3 files
4. Direct calls to action
5. Hyperlinks embedded
Need we say more? The reasons for utilizing business presentations are numerous while the reasons not to do so are almost nonexistent. PowerPoint and Apple presentations have become such an integral part of business and management that professional designers command as much as $50 per slide created! Of course, that number can be much higher but the average freelance creator earns a pretty good living doing so.
High definition images set the overall mood and feel of presentations. Low-quality images kill a presentation’s credibility while high definition images better engage audiences. Multimedia video being included isn't only an option but in our opinion - a strategic imperative. As we teach all students in our business presentation design course, if using video embeds, make sure you have a copy of it on your hard drive. Low bandwidth, wireless outages, or other issues out of your control will happen during your presentation. However, you can control your hard drive so it is best to download a copy of the video as opposed to depending on a third party to stream.
Although we are not fans of including MP3 files in presentations (basic sound files), many people are and there are certainly appropriate reasons to do so. Nevertheless; it is important, as with multimedia video files, to control the asset and have a copy of it on your hard drive if doing in person presentations.
Although we deplore using decades-old clichés, one rings true; “there's never a second chance to make a first impression.” For those sharing presentations online, it is important to spend quality time creating your message and communication long before sharing it with others. Although this seems elementary, many seem to ignore this rule to their own peril. For any requiring proof of this reality, spend a little time on Slideshare.net.
Brian D. Dale
Marketing with Daily Deal Sites
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