Developing a Marketing and Sales Strategy
The discussion shifts to how to reach customers and generate sales, including online presence, social media, pricing strategies, and promotional activities.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
strategy
A plan of action to achieve a goal, like in business to reach customers. Use it when discussing plans, e.g., 'What's your marketing strategy?'
online presence
The way a business appears on the internet, like websites and social media. It's important for modern businesses to have a strong one to attract customers.
non-negotiable
Something that cannot be changed or discussed; it's essential. Use it to emphasize must-haves, e.g., 'Safety is non-negotiable.'
target demographic
The specific group of people a product or service is aimed at, based on age, interests, etc. Useful in marketing to focus efforts, e.g., 'Our target demographic is young professionals.'
pricing
The process of setting prices for products or services. In business talks, discuss it to balance costs and profits.
competitive
Able to compete successfully, often by offering lower prices or better quality. Use in business: 'We need competitive pricing to attract buyers.'
content marketing
A strategy using useful content like blogs or videos to attract and engage customers. It's great for building trust without direct selling.
word-of-mouth
When people recommend a product to others informally. It's powerful free marketing through personal recommendations.
top-notch
Of the highest quality; excellent. Use it casually to praise: 'The service was top-notch.'
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
What's our strategy for reaching customers and making sales?
This is a question using 'what's' (what is) to ask for a plan. It's useful in meetings to start discussions on business goals; the gerund forms 'reaching' and 'making' describe purposes.
An online presence is non-negotiable.
This sentence uses 'be + adjective' to state a firm opinion. It's practical for emphasizing essentials in business; use it when something is absolutely required.
I'm leaning towards focusing on a couple of platforms really well.
Here, 'leaning towards' means preferring an idea. The gerund 'focusing' acts as the object. Useful for expressing opinions in discussions; 'a couple of' means two.
We need to factor in production costs, perceived value, and competitor pricing.
This uses 'need to + verb' for necessity, and lists items with commas. 'Factor in' means to include in considerations. Great for planning talks to show balanced thinking.
It allows us to be competitive without undercutting our value.
A complex sentence with 'allows + object + to infinitive' showing permission or benefit. Useful for explaining advantages; 'without + gerund' means avoiding something.
Speaking of promotions, what are some key activities we should plan?
'Speaking of' transitions to a related topic. The question uses 'what are some' for suggestions. Ideal for shifting conversations naturally in group discussions.
Content marketing is huge for building authority and attracting organic traffic.
'Is huge for + gerund' means very important for an action. 'And' connects parallel gerunds. Useful to highlight benefits in marketing plans.
To summarize, a professional website, strategic social media presence, mid-range pricing, a mix of content and paid ads, and excellent customer service.
This starts with 'to summarize' (infinitive as adverb) followed by a list. It's a common way to end discussions by recapping key points clearly.