Overview Of The UK Electronics Industry
The UK has a strong electronics industry ranging from design and prototype to subcontract electronics manufacture to complete manufacture.
The UK electronics industry has suffered however in the last 10 or so years as more and more electronics (medium to high quantity) has been sent overseas. The UK electronics industry cannot compete with the prices offered by the likes of China and India and therefore has to either find new ways of becoming price competitive, or adapt to pick up smaller projects or projects that have to remain within the UK (defense projects for example).
Many electronics companies are looking at lean manufacturing as a way of combating the overseas competition which has both good and bad effects on the industry, workforce and products. Leaner electronics companies mean more profitable companies, however they are going to be less staff dependent and therefore employing less UK staff.
There has also been a big upheaval in global electronics with the introduction of Rosh compliancy and WEEE initiatives to do with getting rid of lead within electronics and safe environmental recycling. This has caused a huge expense for the UK electronics industry to come into line with the safe manufacture and disposal of electronics products.
Marketing For Technology And Electronics Businesses
Many electronics companies are starting to become more marketing savvey as the industry in the UK becomes more and more competitive and as overseas companies draw work offshore.
Many electronics companies are getting dynamic websites set up and are using the internet to do more and more marketing. However most electronics companies still rely on the more traditional forms of marketing at events and exhibitions (there are a number of dedicated events in the UK for electronics (Subcon at the NEC, National Electronics Week at the NEC are a couple) and also using telemarketing and sales staff.
As the electronics industry is declining; many electronics companies are using telemarketing and sales teams to prospect for new business.
Marketing companies can offer advice and help in marketing electronics companies to generate a stronger brand and position in the industry (through PR, events and direct marketing). There are a wide number of UK marketing companies that work within the electronics and technology sectors and can help in getting marketing campaigns set up and offering strategic advice regards efficient marketing.
Advice And Strategic Help For UK Electronics Companies
The reality is that much electonic manufacturing is overseas now and the remaining UK electronics industry is struggling to continue going; the recession is an added hurdle that UK electronics companies have to cope with.
There are some good marketing companies in the UK that have elecronics experience, are used to working with electonics companies and to help produce effective marketing campaigns that result in profits for UK electronics companies. Talking to an elecronics marketing agency is very wise for any electronics firm (rather than a marketing company that has experience in another market sector).
Some essential marketing tools for electronics companies in the UK:
Website Design For Electronics Companies
A website is an essential tool for electronics companies, as for any business a website is the shop window and the first thing that potential customers will see. Consider electronics companies outside of the UK, most have very modern and attractive websites. There are website designers with electronics experience around the UK and these are the ones to talk to regards either brand new websites or website re-designs.
PR For Electronics Companies
PR is another essential marketing tool for UK electronics companies to consider. There are a broad range (both large and small) PR agnencies with electronics experience around the UK - which are the ones that electronics companies should be talking to regards media coverage. PR can be very cost effective and can be highly targeted, making it an essential consideration for any UK electronics company.
There are a number of other marketing and advertising options for UK electronics companies that should be strongly considered.
SEO For Electonics Websites
Having an electronics website is one thing, however in the sea of websites that there are on the internet, there is no guarantee of it being found. SEO is all about getting links to a website (the more links, the more popular it is and the higher on search results it will appear). For this reason, SEO is important (not necessarly essential) for electronics companies to be found on the internet. With the wide range of electonics websites around the UK (recruitment websites, media websites, PCB assemby, soldering etc.) SEO for electonics websites is important for them to appear in relevant searches.
PPC For Electronics Websites
PPC is all about paid adverts being visible on the first page of search engines. Paid adverts are all about short cutting SEO work, so that web users will see an advert for exactly what they are looking for (even if that website is not coming up on the natural searches) and the electonics firm paying a small amount each time someone clicks on the advert. Search engines are funded by PPC - so it is in their interest for people to use the adverts rather than the natural results; however PPC for electronics companies is necessary in order to get onto page 1 for any search term that is targeted.
For free advice and quotes from marketing companies that have experience in the electronics industry and a knowledge of electronics marketing, just fill in the form above.