How to Market Vending Machines
The vending machine industry in one you can get in to without much sales and marketing experience. Depending on the type of vending machine business you want to start, you can usually begin with a smaller investment than a normal, brick-and-mortar retail business. Regardless, there are some basic marketing principles and ideas you need to understand in order to be successful in the vending machine business. Once you have a strategic marketing plan in place, you can experiment with several market tactics until you find the right ones for your business.
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Instructions
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Write a detailed marketing plan. This plan will help set the foundation for your marketing efforts. Start by writing an executive summary, which describes the objectives of your vending machine business. Include a market analysis section, which talks about competitors in the market and what your target customer looks like. Since vending machine marketing involves business-to-business marketing, or "B2B," identify several distinct markets you are going to target. Once you define your markets, write down how you are going to accomplish your objectives and target these businesses with your services. According to Inc. Magazine, the marketing plan is "a way to tell a concise story that covers all the key points of your strategy going forward."
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Create website and other branded materials like business cards. Hire a web designer and copywriter to help you build a professional-looking site. Include information about your vending machine products and your contact information.
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Call local business owners you identified in your marketing plan. Inquire about whether or not they currently have vending machines, and whether they may be interested in your services. Clearly state the benefits to the customer, which answer the question "what's in it for me?"
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Establish a direct-mail campaign. Partner with a list management company that can help you create a specific list of businesses you want to market your vending machine business to. Choose from a variety of printed materials to send to your list, including sales letters, brochures or postcards. Include your business card and a list of specific benefits these businesses can expect to get from your vending machine services.
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Go to vending machine conferences and trade shows. Network with other vending machine owners, and talk to them about their marketing strategies and what has and has not worked for them.
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References
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