SME Marketing: Some Common Blunders

Comprehensive marketing at a reasonable cost is what every seller dreams of. There is nothing like a good packaged deal conducive of factors like cost, after sales services, etc, which can guarantee business leads in a short span of time.

Moreover, the foremost role of marketing is to get prospective buyers talking about your company and your product. And this persistent interest leads to trade generation. Still, most of the SMEs find it difficult to turn this interest into trade leads, despite good marketing.

What can be the reasons?

Lets discuss in detail:

* Information overdose: When a prospective buyer reaches you, he/she wants to be pampered with exhaustive product information, quality product, good customer services, to say the least. However, there are instances when he/ she gets half-baked information and services. Thus, instead of what the customer wants from the product, the seller pays attention on what the product is all about.

Solution - Customer's want is the need of the hour!: Buyers will feel welcomed when you pamper them with customized solutions to their queries. For instance, if a client wants information on how your product can help him save power consumption, then you must stress upon that very feature of your product instead of listing all the salient features which may not be of interest to him. Try having two to three versions of leaflets and pamphlets of same product/ service, sorted by the its characteristics.

* Inept product prices: The general psyche of a seller is that a low priced product/ service can lure prospective buyers. However, today's buyer is market savvy and may not buy the theory of 'Low Price = Value for money = Good deal' as price is not the sole purchasing criteria anymore, but a part of the bigger picture.

Solution – Focus on quality of service, not just the cost: Do not make 'Low Price' as the sole advertising criteria of the product. Instead, promote it on the basis of quality and relevancy. Moreover, timeliness also plays an important role in product promotion. Offering right thing at the right time is the key to success. You can get a market survey done (or perhaps do it yourself) to gauge your target group's preferences. This will help you market your product/ service with a more focused approach.

* Communication gap: Every business succeeds on the quality of customer services it provides to its clients. Imagine your inbox full of business queries while you hibernate in your cocoon. Customers expect quick response from the seller as and when they want it. And the seller must entertain them on a priority basis as customers are an impatient bunch.

Solution - Bridge the gap: Be pro-active and keep the buyers updated on latest offers and schemes initiated by your company through newsletters and e-mails. This way, you'll remain in their sight. In addition, the seller must quickly respond to business queries from buyers and be specific in his communication.

Nowadays, clients want product satisfaction and would not flinch even for a second before paying a good price for it. So, respond to them with good customer services and laugh your way to their good books, and to the bank, ofcourse!

IndiaMART.com to catalyze B2B matchmaking through 'ACMEE 2010'

Comprehensive marketing platform for companies in industrial sector, especially SMEs

Sizeable 240 distinguished suppliers already registered with ACMEE 2010

Dinesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, IndiaMART.com to be the Guest of Honor


New Delhi, 29th May 2010: IndiaMART.com, India's largest online B2B marketplace, has decided to sponsor the ACMEE 2010 (Auto Components and Machine Tools Engineering Exhibition) with an aim to synergise B2B matchmaking. The exclusive trade forum, to be organized by AIEMA Technology Centre in Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, Chennai from June 17 - 21, 2010, seeks to provide better exposure to companies, especially SMEs, in the industrial sector, with over 240 verified suppliers already registered with the exhibition. Mr. Dinesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, IndiaMART.com will grace the event with his esteemed presence as the distinguished Guest of Honor.

Commenting on the association, Mr. Dinesh Agarwal said, “India is a burgeoning global manufacturing market boasting of exquisite and economical products, quality processes and sought-after capital engineering. Riding on this, ACMEE, one of the pioneering industrial exhibitions in the country, provides an ideal forum for exploring business potentiality besides networking and an opportunity to exchange varied product information and technical details. We, at IndiaMART.com, believe this is synonymous with our objective. Thus, we are delighted to be the proud sponsors of the coveted event.”

He added, “We had associated with ACMEE 2008 as well when the event registered business transactions worth Rs. 250 million. This year too, we are anticipating a huge influx of global buyers and sellers in the fair. We wish ACMEE 2010 a great success and hope that it exhorts the business aspects of the Indian SMEs.”

Slated to be the biggest automobile and mechanical tools trade fair, ACMEE 2010 is the nineth in the biennial series. The event will see exhibitors display an array of products such as Automotive Components, Entire range of Auto Components/ Parts & Supplies, Hydraulics & Pneumatics Systems, Instrumentation & Controls, Automobile and allied services comprising auto components, et al. Moreover, the approval by the Trade Promotion Organization will allow the event to capitalize on the duty free import and exhibition of products which are otherwise subject to custom's rule and regulations.

Besides pioneering online promotions for SMEs, IndiaMART.com has been instrumental in catalyzing B2B matchmaking through these leading sponsored and non-sponsored events. In last two years, IndiaMART.com has partnered with prestigious forums such as IndiaMART AMTEX, IndiaMART UMEX, IndiaMART IMEX, IndiaMART Sign Show, IndiaMART Food & Technology Expo, IndiaMART ACMEE, IndiaMART HITEX International Machine Tool Expo 2009 etc.

About IndiaMART.com

IndiaMART.com is India's largest online B2B marketplace connecting global buyers with suppliers through business directories, online product catalogs, buy-sell offers, industry specific marketplaces, printed media and trade shows participation.

Founded in 1996, the company has a pan-India presence in over 100 cities. With approximately 1200 employees located across 31 offices in the country, IndiaMART.com offers an extensive range of value-added products and services to its 700,000 registered members and nearly 5 million global buyers across various industries and verticals.

IndiaMART.com has won numerous awards over the years and has been widely covered by media such as CNBC, BBC, BusinessMoney, CNN, Businessworld, Economic Times, Financial Express, etc for its pioneering role in promoting SME business in the country.
Its existing investors include Intel Capital and Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (Times Group), India's largest print media group.

For more information, please visit: www.indiamart.com/press-section/


Media Contacts

IndiaMART.com
Arun Tyagi
Marketing & PR
M: +91-9711003832
T: +91-120-3911000
F: +91-120-2424943
E: pr@indiamart.com

IndiaMART.com Brings Exclusive Business Offers for its Members

* Business services at exclusive rates for IndiaMART.com members.
* Corporate giants like HSBC, Monster.com, CC Avenue partner the initiative.

New Delhi, 24 May 2010: Always striving to make its customers feel privileged, IndiaMART.com once again comes up with a platter full of exclusive customer friendly services. The company has announced incredible business offers under a newly launched section named 'Business offers' on its website, where five companies have already partnered with IndiaMART.com to serve the latter's customers at a highly subsidized rate, in a first of its kind initiative.

Corporate giants like HSBC, Monster.com, CC Avenue, E Mudhra and Sage have come together on IndiaMART.com's matchmaking platform to provide a bouquet of exclusive services to its members like Trade Account, Recruitment Solutions, Payment Gateway, Digital Signature and ERP Solutions, respectively. What's more, the members can enjoy all these services at 20%-25% of the regular price. At this time and age, a business also needs customized services to stay ahead in the market and maximize its profit, along with various other things. And with value added offers like online transactions, digital signatures, information about global tenders, etc, small enterprises are definitely going to exult in glory. Surely, IndiaMART.com is gifting its members a smooth business ride all the way.

“We'll always be indebted by the SMEs and MSMEs for their unmatched support and faith in us and we take this opportunity to thank all our esteemed patrons for the same. It gives me immense pleasure in bringing a host of value added business offers for them. The company has always endeavored towards constant improvisation and this latest offering is our way of showing gratitude to our members. I wish the members benefit from this cohesive approach initiated by the company with its esteemed partners and register a great business growth,” says Mr. Dinesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, IndiaMART.com.

IndiaMART.com is one of the leading B2B platforms to herald a wind of change in Indian SME sector. The company recently announced access to around 50,000 live Indian tenders in its database, absolutely free for its patrons. Apart from such never-heard-before initiatives, IndiaMART.com is always on its toes to provide global exposure to Indian SMEs and MSMEs by participating in various international trade shows, around the year.


About IndiaMART.com

IndiaMART.com is India's largest online B2B marketplace connecting global buyers with suppliers through business directories, online product catalogs, buy-sell offers, industry specific marketplaces, printed media and trade shows participation.

Founded in 1996, the company has a pan-India presence in over 100 cities. With approximately 1200 employees located across 31 offices in the country, IndiaMART.com offers an extensive range of value-added products and services to its 700,000 registered members and nearly 5 million global buyers across various industries and verticals.

IndiaMART.com has won numerous awards over the years and has been widely covered by media such as CNBC, BBC, BusinessMoney, CNN, Businessworld, Economic Times, Financial Express, etc for its pioneering role in promoting SME business in the country.
Its existing investors include Intel Capital and Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd (Times Group), India's largest print media group.

For more information, please visit: www.indiamart.com/press-section/
Join us on Facebook to become a Fan and get the latest news and updates about IndiaMART.com: http://www.facebook.com/IndiaMART

Media Contacts

IndiaMART.com
Arun Tyagi
Marketing & PR
M: +91-9711003832
T: +91-120-3911000
F: +91-120-2424943
E: pr@indiamart.com

Ministry Proposes 20% Public Procurement from MSMEs

This is surely going to bring about a wide smile on the faces of MSME owners!

The Ministry of MSME, Government of India, has announced a Public Procurement Policy (PPP) which makes it mandatory for all the ministries and Public Service Units (PSUs) to procure 20% of their total purchase from MSMEs.

Until now, the government procured a meager volume of 4 to 5 percent from MSMEs, out of its total purchase. Unlike many other countries, where the public procurement share from SMEs is at a good position, Indian MSMEs have always faced disappointment due to lack of government support. Out of many recommendations proposed to the government last year, for the benefits of the MSMEs, the 20% PPP is the first one to be presented to the Cabinet for approval.

According to Madhav Lal, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME, the ministry is on its last minute consultation with the concerned PSUs and other ministries. “The proposed policy will make it mandatory for ministries and PSUs to procure 20 per cent of their annual purchase volume from MSMEs and report the procurement made from MSMEs in their annual reports”, stated Mr. Lal.

The MSME associations are a happy family after the announcements as they have been demanding some reservation in public procurement since long. India has a vast public procurement which allows huge growing potential. And with big sectors like railways, defence, power, manufacturing and transport etc in the public sector, the recommended 20% PPP is surely going to boost the business prospects of the Indian MSMEs.

Apart from that, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also made a similar announcement. “In a financial year, in case the large industry (private and public sector) procures stipulated percentage of goods/ services from MSMEs and subject to the transaction having been completed in the form of payment to MSMEs, the large industry would be entitled to certain tax benefits. This would also facilitate the growth progression and upgradation of the vendors,” said Salil Singhal, chairman of CII's National MSME Council.

Ecstatic on hearing the announcements, Mr. Dinesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, IndiaMART.com, commented, “It's better late than never! Though the government took a long time to pay heed to an important pain area of the MSMEs, I welcome the decision as it eventually proposes a huge growth opportunity to them. Apart from marketing and matchmaking platforms like ours, MSMEs also need government support to grow.”

Glad with a commendable gesture like this, lets expect some continuous support from the government for the small industries.

A Glorious Journey of IndiaMART.com!!!

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