Let’s face it, sometimes ideas are just hard to come by. We are so overloaded with things to remember and things to do, that coming up with some newer ways to help promote our business can be challenging.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve jotted down some ideas that appealed to me. Some I thought of myself, some I discovered through all of my surfing ventures of late.
1) Create a calendar to give away. If it applies, and the photos can relate to your business all the better. Of course, this calendar will have your business name and contact information on it!
2) Conduct a free clinic or seminar about a product or service that you offer. These can be webinars as well. They don’t have to be complicated, but they do need to be relevant.
3) Put together a marketing video. Google loves video. When it’s complete, upload it to YouTube and then embed it on your website, and where ever else you can think of.
4) Write an article about what you know and post it on your website, blog, other websites, everywhere! We all know more about something than someone else does, so promote yourself as an expert in that!
5) Write a press release and submit it to your local newspaper. There are also numerous websites that you can submit your press release to, and some of them are free.
6) Create an annual award for something and publicize it.
7) Join your Chamber of Commerce, mostly for the incredible networking opportunities that it will offer you, but also to show your sense of community.
Volunteer to give a speech, or for career day at a local high school.
9) Create a customer loyalty program.
10) Create a monthly newsletter and start an email marketing campaign.
11) Team up with a non-competing business to offer a promotional package.
12) If possible, loan your facility out for meetings and other events. This is a great way to spread the word locally about your business and what you can offer.
13) Spotlight a customer as Customer of the Month. Be sure to advertise this in numerous places.
14) Start a blog.
15) Scan the Public Notices section of your local newspaper for Fictitious Business Name Statement announcements and send them a brochure, a business card and whatever your latest promotion is.
16) Have a treasure hunt on your website.
17) Write a book, or write an e-book that you can give away for free on your website. People love free stuff.
18) Help a Reporter Out – Make your expertise available to reporters all over the country who are looking for people to interview on literally every subject you could think of. Not exactly marketing, but could help in the overall exposure of your venture. http://www.helpareporter.com.
19) Affiliate Marketing – not a new concept by any means, but worth the effort. Check out www.clickbank.com.
20) Join a leads club. If you can’t find one, start one!
I’ve implemented a few of these myself and have plans to work on a few more. I hope you find these useful, and if you have any ideas of your own that you’d like to pass along, please feel free to comment! I love hearing new ideas.
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About the Author: This article has been written by Theresa Sheridan Website Design – Graphic Design – Virtual Assistance
http://www.theresasheridan.com
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Absolutely, Brian! As small business owners we often only look at
Bringing Your Dream Life to Life!
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Small Business Marketing
These are good ideas for small business owners. Marketing for small businesses on low or no budget makes it really difficult to achieve the results.
I’d to add that small business owners should keep eyes on new marketing trends and also adopt some “out of the box” methods that competitors may be overlooking. Like sending printed ad postcards to target audience to attract more customers.
Creative Marketing
I think the best thing any small business can do is to concentrate on their internet based marketing.
Whilst websites and SEO can be more expensive than printed marketing to begin with, the return on your investment is a lot greater. Plus, you are encouraging people to find your business rather than having to constantly push stuff under their noses.
Juan
Internet business works great, but not all businesses will benefit from Internet based marketing.
Pingback: Are you wasting your marketing time? | Women Unlimited
Lefinity - Concierge & Lifestyle Management Company
Very interesting article. There are so many tools start up businesses can use to market their business, however it shall always be done in line with their marketing strategy and one thing at a time. I think biggest mistake small businesses do is concentrate on too many ways to promote their business.
Kind Regards,
Daria Taylor
Lefinity Limited
RJ Ulbricht
Good list. I can see it from both sides. After getting an MBA, I bought a local business back in 1994. The yellow pages were my best ROI by far. I sold that business and now help small local business get new customers by getting them and keeping them on the first page of google. All of my clients have pretty much forsaken the good old yellow pages.
The only change I would recommend to the article is that it should be emphasized early on, unless you want one time customers, that you have the best product/service you can provide and hopefully set yourself apart from the competition in that way from the start. That is how I frame the first page of the websites for clients that I build – Why should someone use you instead of your competition.
Thanks for the article,
RJ
RJ Ulbricht recently posted..Dsc Alarm Systems