Ten marketing tips to help promote your small business
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Are you a small business or start up? Do you sometimes feel invisible? Here are ten low cost marketing ideas guaranteed to boost your profile. Inspired from the Jay Conrad Levinson's Guerrila Marketing book, here is a list of 10 cheap and easy tips to better market your business, that you might sometimes just overlook:
1) Word of mouth is the most cost-effective, powerful form of promotion.
2) Networking may seem intimidating but there are ways to make it less scary. Dont feel you have to sell, sell, sell - the number one rule of networking is to listen. Its about building relationships.
3) Business cards need to stand out from the crowd. Get a new batch printed on unusual material textured card, plastic, wood or make it an unusual shape.
4) The internet is an amazing market place to promote your business but its easy to feel lost or insignificant.
5) Newsletters are a great way to build up a following, sign up potential customers and provide people with a regular reminder about your services.
6) Testimonials support your credibility. Its good practice to ask clients for regular feedback either verbally or in a quick customer satisfaction survey.
7) Cold calling can send shivers down your spine! However, it is a highly targeted way to promote your business. Dont expect to close a deal over the phone again this is about finding out information as much as selling.
8) Referrals are an effective and inexpensive way to increase your business and build your credibility. Ask each of your clients or suppliers for three contacts of other people who might like to find out more about your business.
9) Press releases must be targeted. There is little point sending round a generic press release to hundreds of newspapers. Start by focusing on five publications ideal for your target market.
10) Passion and persistence are the most important tools to promote your small business! If you try each of the strategies above and build them into a regular marketing plan, you will certainly boost your profile, without a doubt!
Via
Tags: marketing, tips, Small Business
posted at 8:34 AM
|
