| |
| |
|
Marketing Information |
|
|
|
Stretching The String: Five Tips To Maximize Your Marketing When You Are On A Shoe String Budget
"I know I need to market my business in order to grow my business, but right now I can't afford it." I have heard this statement numerous times from business owners that are struggling to stay in business. They are hanging on by a frayed string that will break at any moment, resulting in any chances at a successful business to come crashing down. But it doesn't have to happen that way. Instead of focusing on what they don't have and not doing anything to market their business, struggling business owners should focus on making the most of what they do have. If you are on a shoestring budget, it IS possible to stretch the string and generate revenue for your business. Here are Five Tips to Stretch the String: 1. NETWORKING: The key to maximizing opportunities with Networking is to do it effectively and consistently. Don't attend events with the intention of trying to sell your services to everyone you meet. Go with the intention of getting to know more about other business owners and their services. Set a goal to make a connection with at least three business owners and immediately follow up with them after the event. When you take their business card, ask them if you can have another one to pass on to someone who may need their services in the future. 2. ARTICLES: This is one of the most effective ways to market your business when you have more time than money. Write about what you know and use your knowledge to help your target market. If you get overwhelmed by the thought of writing to a large audience, focus on writing to one person...your ideal client. 3. NEWSLETTER: You have a lot of affordable options in this area. You can create an electronic newsletter (ezine) at no cost or very low cost. You can create a one page print newsletter and mail it to your target market or use as a handout. If you don't have the budget to pay for postage, you can also convert your one page newsletter to a .pdf document and email it (with permission) to your target market. While there is no limit to the amount of pages you can put in your newsletter, keep in mind that the string will snap as the number of pages increases due to rising publishing costs. 4. SPEAKING: Seek out speaking engagements to market your business. As the guest speaker, you will be the center of attention and will have a great opportunity to maximize your marketing efforts. Be sure to ask the audience to fill out a feedback form that asks for their contact information. You can offer an incentive to encourage more responses. If you distribute handouts, include your contact information along with a special offer just for attendees in the handouts. 5. BUSINESS CARD: Increase the effectiveness of this little marketing dynamo by utilizing the back of the business card. Think about your most wanted response and then capitalize on all of that real estate space to get it. Think beyond putting a yearly calendar on the back. How about a special offer for your target market? Valuable tips that solve the problems of your target market? Give the recipients of your business card a reason to hold onto your card or to contact you immediately. Use these five tips to generate more ideas and revenue for your business. When it comes to stretching the string, you are only limited by your imagination and attitude. If you invest your time wisely while on a shoestring budget, your return on investment will eventually yield enough revenue to give you an actual marketing budget that will allow you to take your business to new heights. Copyright 2005 Black Unicorn Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved Tresaca Hamilton is the CEO of Black Unicorn Communications. Black Unicorn Communications helps Service Businesses attract more clients in less time. Visit http://www.blackunicorninc.com to receive our free Business Success Toolkit including the free course: 7 Steps To More Clients.
MORE RESOURCES:
Milwaukee Mile back on IndyCar schedule, Andretti-led group to promote June 16 ... - Washington Post
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Natural Marketing for Full Business Success Is your mind muddy on marketing? Do you wake up each day and say, "I get to share myself and my great message with others" or do you say, " I have to market, or I will fail."Natural marketing refers to the action you take to get the word out about your service and product that rings true to your heart. Marketing Tips - Ten Quick Marketing Actions It is often difficult to manage to do marketing tasks when you have a busy business or professional practice. Here are 10 ideas each of which take 5 or 10 minutes and can be done between appointments or when you take a break from working on a large project. Market Planning -- Getting the Word Out "There are those who get things done and those who think about getting things done." --Col. The Power Of A Story If you want your marketing to be effective, you absolutely must connect emotionally with your prospects. And one of the best ways to do that is by telling a story. Target Your Share of the 50-Plus Market It's quite apparent that Americans are living longer--- and as people age, they request and require many more products and services than ever before. Now, as aging Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are coming of age, the fifty-plus population is over 77 million people and growing enormously all the time. Niches - The Path to More Profits Hey, as business owners we CAN'T be all things for all customers. I mean it would be fantastic if we could, however, you just can't meet the needs and wants of everyone, you would run yourself ragged trying :o(BUT . 3 Strategies to Market Your Business Even When There's No Money Many small and home based businesses know they need to market and yet, have little or no money to do so. Sadly, many use this as a reason not to market. Census Data Mapping for Small Business When studying the demographics of an area for a business venture or expansion you need to not only understand all the data, but what it means to your individual business model. Census data and Census projection charting for MSDA's has become very accurate over the years. Fair Measures Corporation A case study in online "thinking outside the box" The Fair Measures Corporation Web site, at http://www.FairMeasures. What Your Customers Want Your customers don't know what they want. And to assume otherwise is folly. Teaming Up Marketing and Sales The Pitchers: SalesLet's say you have a new baseball team in town and it's almost time for the first game of the season. Your sales force is ready to sell a variety of package deals for the season. Itchin For Some Nichin The whole idea of Niche Marketing is exciting! The possibilities are endless, as there are literally millions of people surfing the web, the vast majorities of whom are here for two reasons . . The Top 10 Ways to Market your Business or Professional Practice Without Networking While focused, strategic networking is usually the most efficient way to build your professional practice, there are many other ways to market your business. Personal networking may not be appropriate in some areas, or for certain types of services, and some people simply don't like to do it. Six Essential Principles for Marketing to Women Business Owners Marketing to women entrepreneurs is not difficult. You just have to follow six easy, but essential, principles. What Are People Buying Online? Benefits, that's what!Whether you're selling in print or in person, it's a universal truth.And success in both worlds requires a counterintuitive approach. Creating Assets:Spark Your Thinking With These 16 Comprehensive Questions Here are some questions to get your thoughts and cash flow moving that will also keep your product creating aligned and focused. Find your gold mine in your surroundings by looking at any promotional literature you have created, audio or video tapes you have produced, press releases or articles about or by you, your product catalog or list and even your business card. How Testimonials Can Put You in the Spotlight If you need evidence that a testimonial or referral can help you, let me tell you a personal story:My friend Dave raved about his boss all the time. "She knows I'm still in school," he said, "so she always asks about my schedule. How to Discover your Primary Market and Where to Find Them Whether you market online or offline, you already know the shot-gun approach to marketing brings few results. You will sell more products and services when you step back and set up a strategy to reach your targeted market. Marketing Tips- Who Are You Competing With? Before you can market, you need to know who you are marketing to. Who is your customer? How will you market? Will you cold call, mail, set appointments or employ a walk in approach? Be careful with the walk in approach as many businesses do not permit soliciting. Forward Thinkers Stay Ahead of the Curve What is it like from a marketing perspective to be yesterday's news? We rely on what is tried and true in marketing because it is usually safe, tried, and tested. It saves us time, as well, since we don't have to put on our creativity cap to craft an innovative strategy.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
