Marketing Tips for your Small Business
It’s a double edged sword marketing. Marketing cost money and in times like these who has money to spare? If you don’t market people don’t know you exist and eventually you really won’t exist as a business. Al l this to say you can’t afford marketing that dosen’t pay, atleast not for long. Below are some keys tips to developing a marketing plan. The key word here is PLAN. There is always an aspect of dumb luck every now and again, but we aim for calculation, intention and valid reason, when possible, to choose a specific route with marketing.
1. Perception- What catches your eye more a t-shirt with a company logo or a collared shirt with an embroidered logo? Better yet a fleece jacket with an embroidered company logo? Present well and do well. The reality it may cost a little bit more money, but it add more credibility when you present yourself credibly.
2. Know your customer/know your niche- Who is buying what you are selling? Ask yourself, ask your friends, ask your customers what type of people are they, what are they interested in, why do they want what you have, what are their common traits, places they go, things they do? If you are selling a toy for 2 year olds who is your customer? Not just the two year, but their mom too. I am not going to place a billboard above the gun shop out in the sticks b/c mom and two year old won’t be there.
3. Consistency- Studies continue to show repition is key. A one time add in the Sunday paper is a waste of money. Run a smaller add, in the same spot, twice a week for 3 months. By the 2nd month people will begin to notice. With marketing, whenever possible, reptition and consistency are key.
4. Trackability- Make your campaigns trackable, add an additional page on your website that you are putting the link to ini your paper add and then us Google analytics to see how many hits it is getting. Use coupons for redemption. Figure out ways to keep track of the effectivness of your marketing. Add calculation to the game so you can get the most for your money.
5. Make a Plan- Look at what you are offering, when you are offering and look at the next 6 months out. Make a plan of how you will market your business, your product. What avenues are available to you, what type of budget do you have, what is the time commitment? Ask these questions and make a plan. Tweaking the plan along the way is fine if it makes sense.
Technology and online marketing are a whole new post, make that a new series, in and of itself. There are a couple of other post on 285Inc that my colleagues have put up on how to use twitter, free online postings for your business, etc. I am pushing for my savvy co-hort to do a series, very soon, on some tangible programs, websites, methods to push your business hard, fast and calculated online. Stay tuned and I will bug him to get that out soon!
