"Peace begins with a smile."Mother Teresa
|
| |
20 Small Business Tips, For Success
These are just some general tips to keep in mind as you design/operate your small business: 1. Take the time out to explore and understand whether or not you are compatible with running our own business. Some people are just plain happier and better off ...
Oasis in a Cash Flow Desert - Four Resources That Increase Small Business Capital Streams
For small business owners, an enthusiastic vision for smooth, steady growth can become nothing more than a mirage once company cash flow problems begin to heat up. Most will struggle with the timing of payment from clients or customers at some point, all ...
The Golden Rule of Small Business Marketing
The Golden Rule of Small Business MarketingSolving the Marketing vs Operations RiddleAs a current small business owner and corporate marketing manager, I have seen marketing from both sides of the fence. The big corporations tend to rely on their buying ...
|
|
|
| |
Ten steps to promote your small business
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.
1) Word of mouth is the most cost-effective, powerful form of promotion. Write a list of 50 people you know but don't see regularly relatives, friends, ex-colleagues etc. Send each of them a friendly email or postcard to let them know what you're up to. Ask them for feedback, advice or contacts of anyone who might be interested in hearing about your business. Don't be shy! People love to help. For practical tips on promoting your small business visit Guerrilla Marketing
2) Networking may seem intimidating but there are ways to make it less scary. Don't feel you have to sell, sell, sell - the number one rule of networking is to listen. It's about building relationships - go to a networking event looking for opportunities to help others. Ask questions, gather information, offer contacts and advice people will remember you for it. Networking PLUS is Business Link's popular monthly speed-networking event for details visit the events section on the Business">www.bl4london.com">Business Link website.
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. Offer a business tip or special offer on the back. Include your photo on the card this makes it more personal, easier to remember you and harder to throw away! For excellent free tips on killer business cards see Card Sharks on the Lean">www.leanmarketing.co.uk">Lean Marketing website.
4) The internet is an amazing market place to promote your business but it's easy to feel lost or insignificant. Join specialist forums and exchange links with complimentary websites. To reach a targeted audience, join Affinity">www.affinitytrading.com">Affinity Trading Network an active online network for small businesses. You get a full web profile about you and your business, and access to the Trading Boards, providing an effective way to increase your online exposure.
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. Write a simple one page resource of news, advice and latest offers each month. Run a competition or poll. Promote your customers or suppliers. Use it to build your reputation as a useful hub of up-to-date information. Encourage feedback, keep it enjoyable and personal. To help you build a mailing list, create a newsletter and measure results, look at Mailing Manager
6) Testimonials support your credibility. It's good practice to ask clients for regular feedback either verbally or in a quick customer satisfaction survey. When you have a happy customer ask whether you could get a quote from them. Be clear as to how you will use the testimonial on your website, in your newsletter or letterhead etc. Make sure you accredit the quote explicitly with the name of the client anonymous testimonials don't hold much punch. After all, testimonials can also give your clients good publicity.
7) Cold calling can send shivers down your spine! However, it is a highly targeted way to promote your business. Don't expect to close a deal over the phone again this is about finding out information as much as selling. Use phone calls as the first step to getting to know your prospective clients better. Don't make a full pitch but arrange an appointment or ask permission to send on further materials about your business. And remember to speak
s-l-o-w-l-y! For a Cold Calling Crash course to get you over your fears and anxieties, take a look at Do">www.doyourownpr.com">Do Your Own PR.
8) Referrals are a valuable and inexpensive way to find new clients. It's not about being pushy, it's about building long term business relationships based on trust. Start by asking each of your clients or suppliers for three contacts of other people who might like to find out more about your business. You could offer to reciprocate and provide three useful contacts in return. Make it a regular habit to give referrals as well as ask for them. For an effective referral marketing system, visit 1quickreferral
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. Read back editions thoroughly understand what kind of stories they like to publish and the style of language they use. Find a relevant news hook and tailor your press release specifically for each publication. The first paragraph is key and must provide the who, what, where, when and why of your story. For excellent tips on writing press releases visit Bizhelp24 .
10) Patience and persistence are the most important tools to promote your small businesses! 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!
About the Author
Jo Hill is the Director of Affinity Trading Network
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Chamber honors local small business leaders - Evening Sun
NORWICH β Commerce Chenango honored six local businesses for their contributions to the community at its 2008 Annual Salute to Small Business Dinner Wednesday. Those recognized were this yearβs recipients of the Small Business Gems, Entrepreneur ...
Lawmakers fault Treasury, Fed on bailout - Boston Globe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Exasperated U.S. lawmakers criticized Federal Reserve and Treasury Department efforts to shore up the faltering economy on Thursday, telling officials that their financial rescue efforts have not reached small businesses or ...
Dell profits take (small) hit in Q3 - The Register
If you were looking for some good news out of Dell today as it reported its fiscal 2009 third quarter financial results, you will probably be disappointed. But not as much as you might think. That's good news of a sort considering the miserable week ...
New Version of Office-in-a-Box - PC World
If you ever needed confirmation that phones are now auditory computer devices, take a look at a modern "office-in-a-box" or "all-in-one" system for small businesses and remote offices. Phones are front and center, e-mail and Web servers come next ...
iReporters wary of auto bailout - CNN
(CNN) -- The U.S. economy is like a stack of blocks with the troubled auto industry at its base -- or at least that's how iReporter Jennifer LeMay sees it. Small-business owner Jennifer LeMay fears the U.S. economy will collapse if the auto industry ...
|
