Do You Want
Your Business Name To Be On The Lips Of EVERYONE In Town?
If
so, read the following articles for hints on how to magnify
your marketing potential by using stronger techniques without
wasting thousands of dollars on ineffective image advertising.
Marketing
On A Shoe String – 43 Sure-Fire Ideas!
Creating
Buzz on a Budget!
Click
here to view recent samples of our work.
Marketing
On A Shoe String – 43 Sure-Fire Ideas!
Here are 43 quick, low-cost marketing ideas
under $100 to get you started. Pick one, two, 10, or all
of them. Your business will thank you.
1. Hang a banner in town.
2. Display a magnetic sign on your car.
3. Go to a networking event and collect 10 new business
cards.
4. Subscribe to trade/industry magazines.
5. Visit the competition as a customer. See how you can
do better.
6. Send birthday cards with coupons to your best customers.
Use regular mail and E-mail.
7. Create a statement that describes the value your company
brings to customers and hang it up in your store or send
it to your customers.
8. Save marketing materials you like and use them as ideas
for your own marketing materials.
9. Ask your staff for ways to bring in new business.
10. Set aside time every day, week, or month to focus on
marketing.
11. Write a marketing plan that includes your goals and
how you plan to achieve them. Make a schedule to make it
happen.
12. If you find any statistics or fun facts about your industry,
save them and use them when you can.
13. Buy a notebook to write down all your marketing ideas.
14. Look at your advertising or marketing materials. Replace
any negative words with positive choices.
15. Keep a customer log in your place of business or on
your Web site and encourage customers to leave testimonials
and suggestions.
16. Sell gift certificates.
17. Leave your cards or brochures in local stores, restaurants,
barber shops, and other places that allow it.
18. Contact the alumni association of any school you attended
and tell them about your business or any new company developments.
19. Handwrite your envelopes when mailing something to customers.
20. Test a direct mail piece or brochure with a small audience
before producing large quantities.
21. Enlarge copies of any ads you buy and turn them into
flyers for distribution as promotional handouts.
22. Sponsor an event related to your business where all
proceeds go to charity.
23. Follow the news. Donate products or services when the
community suffers a tragedy, budget crunch, or other challenge.
24. Sponsor a local sports team or school.
25. Look your customers in the eye.
26. Have a firm handshake.
27. Treat employees well -- customers notice high turnover.
28. Bargain creatively for services you need from outside
vendors.
29. Always pass out two business cards when you meet someone
-- one for that person and one for them to share with a
friend.
30. Contact membership coordinators at groups or associations
that would benefit from your product or service. Offer members
a discount.
31. Create and maintain a good database of customers and
prospects.
32. Meet once a month with other non-competing small-business
owners to brainstorm.
33. Send your sociable staff members to networking events,
especially if you're shy.
34. When you join a professional organization, get involved
on a committee to meet more people.
35. Put a memorable sticker on your name tag at business
events.
36. Call five of your best customers and offer them a one-day
special.
37. Make your customers' phone experience pleasant. Use
quick, helpful responses and appropriate on-hold music,
and make sure there's a smile in your voice.
38. Make it easy for customers to do business with you by
publicizing your E-mail and Web addresses and phone and
fax numbers.
39. Promote your business at exhibit booths at flea markets,
road races, and community events -- and don't forget the
free samples!
40. Sponsor a float in a city/town parade.
41. Ask a local storyteller, magician, or children's entertainer
to perform for one hour every week, during a slow time,
to generate traffic.
42. Get involved in your city/town by participating in city/town
cultural events. Have your staff wear green on St. Patrick's
Day, put up decorations for Day of the Dead, or celebrate
Black History Month with posters.
43. Collect information from your Web site visitors so you
can stay in touch.
Creating
Buzz on a Budget!
Find
the right people to talk enthusiastically about your business.
Who are "the right people"? That depends on your
product or service. For some businesses, teenagers are the
best buzz creators. For others, they may be store owners.
Buzz creators are messengers who truthfully communicate
the value of your product or service. If you can get them
excited about what you do, they will naturally create a
buzz. Not only do they buy from you, they tell others to
do the same.
For many businesses, celebrities are excellent buzz creators.
If people see Halle Berry wearing your latest design or
George Clooney eating at your restaurant, you're guaranteed
to generate some buzz. Most of us, however, only need to
create some local excitement to be successful.
How do I reach buzz creators?
The first step is clearly identifying them. How old are
they? Where do they shop, eat, play, work? What do they
read, watch, and listen to? Find out as much as you can.
How do I get my product or service on their radar?
Use the following examples to get folks talking about your
business.
• Use giveaways.
This is an excellent and fun way to reach people. When Breath
Asure gave away its breath freshener at the San Francisco
Garlic Festival, garlic lovers responded and the media took
notice. Tickle Me Elmo creators gave an Elmo to every member
of Rosie O'Donnell's studio audience -- knowing that moms
and kids would be excited and hundreds of Elmos would be
waved in front of the camera.
• Take it to the source.
Boston Beer Company, maker of Sam Adams, got noticed when
founder Jim Koch traveled door-to-door to introduce his
great-great grandfather's beer recipe. Koch called media
and restaurant owners to tell them firsthand about his product.
He got media recognitions and sales skyrocketed.
• Get your buzz creators involved.
Sponsor a focus group, send your customers free product
samples, and ask your customers for their feedback. In Zone
Brands, an Atlanta toy company, created a Kids Board to
get specific feedback. Do you have regular customers? Why
not reward them by hosting a free breakfast for them and
use the time to hear their ideas, feedback, and suggestions.
• Use publicity.
Creatively tell your business story to the local press.
You don't need a public relations firm to do this, especially
in the beginning when money is tight. Start small and stay
local. Take time to develop and grow valuable relationships
with local reporters, who can help spread the word.
Host a special event.
• Try something offbeat … A grand opening
is usually expected of a new business, but try something
offbeat instead. Celebrate Groundhog's Day, Arbor Day or
Grandparents Day. Customers will be interested, and reporters
might be interested too.
• Sponsor a local school team or club.
You'll win with students, parents, and community leaders
by showing an interest in children. Display their photos,
create T-shirts, and host an end-of-season party. While
getting your name out, you're also supporting a worthy cause.
You can't lose.
• Be the best.
Be the best donut shop, barber, dry cleaner, or pizza place.
Most local
newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, and other business organizations
sponsor a "Best of…" award contest. Find out what's
offered and get entered.
