"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one."Stella Adler
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Marketing Your Small Business With Your Business Card
Spending money on marketing and getting value for the money spent can be very hard for any small business. It's easy to spend a lot on glossy television ads and print ads that can bring in very little in the way of additional business. But almost every ...
Small Business Q & A: Build A High Profit Business With Online Affiliate Programs
Q: I am considering starting an ebusiness using affiliate programs,but there is so much hype out there I can't figure out which programswould work best for me. Everybody claims their program is best. I'd really appreciate some guidance here.A: Affiliate ...
What can a Voice over IP phone system do for my small business?
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a term used to describe the transmission of telephone calls using a data network, rather than over traditional phone lines. It is a simple concept, but one that is having a very significant impact on the world of ...
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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
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