Because the economy is in tatters, it's very tempting to stop marketing. However, if you are not active in your marketplace, you run the risk of being forgotten and passed over for your competitors when your customers start buying again. Instead of not marketing at all, get the most out of every buck and use your marketing budget wisely. Try these four affordable ways to market your small business.
Go online When you do get a website, don't just leave it and let it lie there. It's important for your website to be a lead generation machine. Offer customers something in return for signing up or subscribing - an ebook, a whitepaper, a coupon or discount voucher - and then use the details you get from them in step number two. Add new content regularly, and make use of podcasts and video to offer clients an interactive experience.
Why you should email customers and prospects People are looking for information, and if you can provide useful, relevant information to your prospects and clients, they are more likely to purchase from you than from a competitor. Regularly email tips, tricks, little known information and relevant material since it allow you to keep in contact with them and it's also really cheap.
PR opportunities is something you should look for If you landscaped a children's home garden at a 50% discount, that's a donation to the home. Also a donation is painting the children's ward at the local hospital with no charge for labor. Involvement in the community is good and can bring good in the form of free publicity in your local radio, press, or you can just tell them about it.
Networks Small business owners often get bogged down in the everyday details of their business. To cover costs, formal networking events often charge a fee but you can meet prospective customers and suppliers in this inexpensive way. Start a networking group if there are none in your town.
Marketing does not have to cost a fortune - but it must be done, and be carried out with a consistent message and company image in order to be successful. These four tips are worth a try and you can add others that you think will help your business get back on its feet.
Go online When you do get a website, don't just leave it and let it lie there. It's important for your website to be a lead generation machine. Offer customers something in return for signing up or subscribing - an ebook, a whitepaper, a coupon or discount voucher - and then use the details you get from them in step number two. Add new content regularly, and make use of podcasts and video to offer clients an interactive experience.
Why you should email customers and prospects People are looking for information, and if you can provide useful, relevant information to your prospects and clients, they are more likely to purchase from you than from a competitor. Regularly email tips, tricks, little known information and relevant material since it allow you to keep in contact with them and it's also really cheap.
PR opportunities is something you should look for If you landscaped a children's home garden at a 50% discount, that's a donation to the home. Also a donation is painting the children's ward at the local hospital with no charge for labor. Involvement in the community is good and can bring good in the form of free publicity in your local radio, press, or you can just tell them about it.
Networks Small business owners often get bogged down in the everyday details of their business. To cover costs, formal networking events often charge a fee but you can meet prospective customers and suppliers in this inexpensive way. Start a networking group if there are none in your town.
Marketing does not have to cost a fortune - but it must be done, and be carried out with a consistent message and company image in order to be successful. These four tips are worth a try and you can add others that you think will help your business get back on its feet.
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