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Marketing in the Context of Extension. CFANS Extension Meeting October 9, 2013, DECC. I. Pricing: Considerations in setting a price for your programs. COME ON Why aren’t all of your programs free? After all, you’re a state agency. And most everything USED to be free!
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Marketing in the Context of Extension CFANS Extension Meeting October 9, 2013, DECC
I. Pricing: Considerations in setting a price for your programs
COME ON • Why aren’t all of your programs free? After all, you’re a state agency. • And most everything USED to be free! • What is our tax money being used for anyways?
How important is setting the right price? What happens when you don’t
1. Identify price constraints and objectives • Constraints • Number of potential buyers • Newness of the service • Costs of creating and doing the program • Amount of competition and what they charge
1. Identify price constraints and objectives (cont) • Objectives • Profits • Number sold • Market Share • Survival
2. Estimate demand and revenue • Demand estimation (at various pricing points) • Sales revenue estimation (at various pricing points)
2. Estimate demand and revenue (cont.) Elasticity = % change in number who will attend/% change in price • If greater than 1, then it is elastic • If less than 1, then it is inelastsic • Examples (gasoline=.2, clothing =1.2) Inelastic demand ?e.g., of elastic demand?
3. Estimate cost/volume/revenue relationships • Gets into total costs, fixed costs, variable costs, marginal costs. • Estimates Breakeven point • BE quantity = Fixed costs/Unit price – unit variable cost
4. Set the price • Cost plus • ROI (profits) • Above, at or below-market pricing • Odd-even pricing • Bundle pricing • Loss leader • One price or dynamic pricing (e.g., Timberwolves) • Discounts
Skimming vs. penetration pricing • Highest initial price or low price to appeal to more people ($440 vs $8.7 million)
Price helps determine the “buyer’s” estimation of quality and value • Retailers don’t price store brands more than 20-25% less than manufacturer’s brands…signals lower quality
Definition • Branding: using a name, phrase, design, symbol or combination to identify one’s services and distinguish them from those of competitors.
Why is branding important?The value of the UM and Extension Brand • Forms an intense, active loyalty relationship between consumers and the brand. Think of this as a psychological bond. • Your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and how you’re different from your competitors.
We want UM Extension to be a brand that people love • Brand equity: Strong, favorable, unique consumer associations and experiences with a brand. • Not easily achieved. • Not quickly achieved. Must go through steps to get there: Who are you? What are you? What can you do for me?
What can happen when we don’t brand or use our brand symbol? • We lose that intense, active loyalty relationship
Do you have a valuable Personal Brand? • Make sure you enhance the benefit of your brand by including the UM Extension brand in all you do
How do the “customers” for your services want to hear about your offerings and feel connected?
Forest & Tree Invasive Species Program target audiences: • Tree and forest professionals • Master Naturalists • Forest pest first detectors • Family forest landowners • Tourism operators and managers Forest Ecosystem Health target audiences: • Loggers and natural resource prof. • Family forest owners • Volunteers • County tax assessors Precision Ag Program target audiences: • County grower groups • Machinery and implement dealers • Farmer under-utilizing precision ag technology • Ag professionals
Small Farms Program target audiences: • Rural residence farms • Intermediate farms Institute for Ag Professionals target audiences: • Ag business input dealers • Crop consultants Turfgrass management • Consumers (lawn care) • Golf course superintendents • Master Gardeners
Digital Marketing • Photos—consider allowing photo-sharing (Flickr) • Videos – be sure to edit to suitable length, promote them through social media (YouTube) • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) -- based on key words, links, site features • Mobile marketing – text messaging, sites optimized for mobile devices (e.g., scrolling in one direction, no Javascript, simple layouts) • Email – avoid opt-outs and being labeled as SPAM Extension (Mike’s office) has resources/templates to help making branded videos, emails, etc. easier for you!
Social Media • Interactions between people online • Digital tools that let you share information and network with others.
45% of buyers interact with brands on social networking sites. Why? • Gain access to a discount (61%) • Purchase a product/service (55%) • See reviews/product ratings (53%) • Get access to general information (53%) • Get access to exclusive information (52%) • Learn about new products/services (51%) Source: http://www.slideshare.net/duckofdoom/ibm-why-people-follow-brands.
How Extension can use Social Media • Generate awareness and exposure • Enhance customer service • Drive website traffic • Improve monitoring and do research • Generate leads and improve sales
Use of Social Media • Facebook page is altogether different from your webpage. More FUN, LOOSE, ENGAGING! • Goals: Generate buzz, give audience something of value, integrate with other parts of your social media presence.
Create conversation and engagement. • What is your favorite memory of our session? • What’s one thing you would like to see us do differently in our next program? • How can we improve your experience at our event? Generate a call to action. Get them active and give them something to do (“like” your brand, share this content with others, engage in a contest to name your next conference title). Text (like this page) is boring. Use pictures and other media! Visuals!!!
Use of Social Media • Twitter—like a text message that goes out to groups, instead of individuals. • Key is timeliness! • Numbers: • Justin Bieber = 45 million followers • UM Extension = 2750 followers Source: http://twittercounter.com/UMNExt, Sept 20, 2013
Use breadcrumbs approach. • Use quotes, etc. and then link to your site for full details. • Do surveys to generate interest. • Share content that is demanded.
Other Use of Social Media • LinkedIN similar to Facebook, but more for business professionals. • Google+ similar to Facebook plus Twitter in one platform. Use “circles” to control who sees what content.
Quick conversation. • How are we doing with digital media for our offerings?
Questions and comments on “Using Technology to sell” before we dismiss?