Today, I’m going to do something a little different. While I’d like to discuss the importance of product marketing tips and why things go as wrong as they do for so many, that’s not what this post is about. Today I’m going to give you a list, demanded by you- the readers – of ten product marketing tips that are simple, brief and get right to the point.

#1 – Know your Goals Know what your goals are going in, and be realistic in defining them. Always plan ahead. When you build your site and your marketing plan, build to meet goals. Many advertisers make the mistake of setting their goals after building their basic plans and structure, and that seldom works.

Making sure goals are realistic and attainable is very important, but never compromise on aiming high. Fear of  limitations will result in lost potential. This is especially true when it comes to marketing.

#2 – Content is Important In marketing, content is what sells, not fluff. Many marketers make the mistake of spending too much time on hype, focusing on how great their company, philosophy and product is, without ever really demonstrating the product. Be sure to provide constructive content that is both interesting and informative about your product or service; such as white papers, case studies and other materials. This is what people want to see, and this is what they base their decisions on, not polish.

#3 – Analytics Take advantage of the digital millennium; Use analytics tools for optimal outreach. Harness the power of SEO, PPC and social marketing by tapping into Google and Yahoo’s powerful and intuitive analytics resources. You will get insights into what’s trending, what’s popular and what’s being sought after the most. With SEO knowledge, you can make sure that when people surf the net, they will find you.

#4 – Using Business Directories An advantage of the internet-age, is the numerous digital business directories – both local and international. They allow you to make yourself very visible via SEO and other internet marketing strategies. Google, Yahoo, Local.com, Yelp and SuperPages are but a few examples of directory providers. They are free and they work.

#5 – Look to your Competition Know thy enemy is an old proverb, but it’s true. When it comes to dealing with your competition, you will have to illustrate why your product is superior to theirs. You must also differentiate your site and your marketing materials from that of your competition. It’s important to make sure that your content is very different in wording, attitude and philosophy from your competitors; There is no worse situation than being accused of plagiarism. Of course, we both know that you didn’t copy and paste their content! But when your products are similar, this can accidentally happen, so be wary of it.

#6 – Review your Website Let’s say you have a website and you are selling a product. Even if you are not an online business owner, just an average Joe with a dream. You probably adore the design and presentation that you have created but you haven’t asked others about their opinions; third party opinions are very important. Be sure that focus groups and other outside sources look at your site to ensure that it works the way it was intended to work – both aesthetically and with easy functionality. Never rely on your own opinion alone, that’s a big mistake.

#7 – Use Blogs Blogs aren’t just a fad, they are here to stay. People read and subscribe to thousands of blogs daily, be it at the office, on their mobile phone, or at home while enjoying breakfast. Blogs are a powerful new form of unregulated journalism, and through this medium, you can discuss, at length –or in short bursts, the merits of your product. You can describe the problems, illustrate solutions and provide examples or case studies.

#8 – Video Using video to discuss and illustrate your product is just as powerful, if not more powerful, than writing a blog.  Idle surfers on YouTube, Blip and Vimeo will often watch these marketing videos just to have something to stare at; whether it is to pass time while a file downloads at home or to break up the hours of a tedious, uneventful job. Take advantage of this fact, because video is so powerful that even passive, bored users often remember a large portion of what they saw.  When their need for your product arises, you will be the first provider they envision.

#9 – Know Your Keywords Know how keywords work and how people formulate them when searching online for any given topic. Predict the most and least optimal keywords, and work SEO magic to reach out to both, and everything in between. SEO is immensely powerful, so to not take advantage of it would be pretty wasteful.

#10 – Incentives So, you’ve hooked them, gotten their attention through these different approaches…but how do you now get potential customers to try your product or service? Incentivize them, of course.

Offer them free trials, money back guarantees and rewards for referring others to you (via email, word of mouth etc..). This is a very old concept, but just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

The product marketing tips outlined above are very reliant on the digital approach to things, but given how life is becoming increasingly digital, this is the only way to go.