Even if you’re not much of a sports fan, with the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games in full swing it’s tough not to catch Olympic fever. There’s something about the mix of athletic skill, determination, and national pride that can be downright inspirational.

If there’s a defining characteristic of Olympic athletes, it’s that they have a singular focus on being the best at their chosen sport and have the all-out drive to capture a gold medal. Swimmer Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in history because of that approach to mastering his sport.

Is your direct marketing just as driven?

If you want your business to stand out to clients in a crowded marketplace, it’s time to sharpen your focus to present yourself as the best in your field and the go-to provider. A major part of accomplishing that is ensuring your direct marketing reflects that vision.

In 30 years of helping businesses reach their target clients, we’ve found a few guiding principles that will help get your marketing in shape and reach the finish line.

Consistent Voice

From traditional direct marketing methods such as direct mail and print advertising, to web-based ads, ensure that you’re employing a consistent tone and message. While it’s necessary to tailor messaging for specific outlets, the core voice of your brand should remain a constant. That takes identifying your business’ core strengths, values, and services, and distilling those into messaging that clearly communicates those elements in a consistent way across multiple platforms.

Consistent Visuals

The look of your direct marketing matters. Varying the look and feel of your marketing too much across various platforms can make your business look haphazard and willing to try anything, instead of established and confident. Consistency starts with establishing your branding and extends to every marketing piece you produce, to ensure you’re incorporating a “wow factor” that helps you stand out.

Consistent Service

This is where the rubber meets the road. You can have great-looking marketing materials, but if the service you provide doesn’t match up you’ll be left in the dust. The best direct marketing should simply reflect in the best-possible way the highest level of service you already provide.

It might take some work to develop your direct marketing, but we’ve found that dedication and determination really can help you enter the winners’ circle.

Do you need some coaching to take your marketing all the way and go for the gold? Mellady Direct can help. Click here to contact us and let’s talk about how to create marketing that keeps you coming in first.