MARKETING TIPS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Posted by Tisha Tolar on April 9, 2008

A lot of business people claim they are horrible at marketing. They insist the concept of marketing totally eludes them and they do not possess an ounce of creativity. I must beg to differ. Most of what it takes to make marketing work is common sense. You are the daily target of marketing ploys by other companies. It seems near impossible that you do not have a personal opinion about the tactics used on you to get you to buy a product, subscribe to a service, or purchase something you may not have otherwise considered. What did it take for you to be hooked and reeled in to their marketing plan?

Common sense should be incorporated into all of your marketing campaigns. These campaigns do not need to cost exorbitant amounts of money either. This is where your creativity comes into play. You can save tons of money if you design and print your own marketing materials. Color printers will do basically the same job and the cost of the printer will be recouped after just a few campaigns. Technology for small business is ever-expanding and the equipment is available at relatively reasonable prices.

The easiest way to get your name out and about is by word of mouth. You can not be a wallflower and expect to get a mass of customers or clients. Word of mouth advertising is the cheapest yet most effective method of marketing and promotion your company can get. Never stop looking for ways to meet people. Sign up for local chamber of commerce associations and other organizations that encourage networking opportunities, like conventions, with the appropriate business people. While the dues associated with private organizations can be a bit expensive, the opportunities available may make up for the cost.

You should also seize any opportunity to meet people when you are technically off the clock. Simply going out to eat can introduce you to local business people who may in turn spread the word about your company to other associates.

Never underestimate the power of free stuff. Price some marketing merchandise that is both affordable and originally. Sure it’s nice to have some company pens, but it also might not hurt to think a little out of the box for other novelty ideas that relate to your business and will be memorable to others you meet.

When starting a specific marketing campaign, a little dab will do ya’. Do not spend all of your money on 10,000 brochures. Start small until you find something that works and then put forth a bigger investment. When you find something is not working, do not move forward with it or invest any more money.

Don’t feel you can not market successfully without a big budget. There are many ways you can carry through with a successful marketing program and not shell out thousands of dollars in the process.

Again, out of the box thinking can really open doors for you. Think about any idea, not matter how irrelevant it may seem, and explore it. For example, if you have a service business, seek out opportunities for speaking engagements. They are normally non-paid opportunities that are welcomed by various schools, organizations, clubs, or community groups, where you can share your knowledge with others and show off your capabilities. It doesn’t cost you a cent and the end result may be way more than what you initially anticipated