Business Article - Save Money on Marketing
Marketing and sales are nearly identical. Profit is dependent on marketing, and rarely happens without it. Customers, especially repeat customers, are needed for monthly profits. Drawing in new customers monthly is imperative, but does not have to be expensive. There are many ways to attract new customers, and making sales with the smallest expense possible is key to generating maximum profit.
Do it Yourself
Marketing teams that specialize in solely marketing your business are great. However, they are expensive, and usually not practical for startup, small, or local businesses. Doing the marketing yourself is free of labour and hourly expenses. However, it can be time consuming, so planning the best marketing strategy will be necessary to make the best use of time.
Make Your Own Materials
Websites are usually the first place owners turn when looking for advertisement. While it may seem difficult, learning simple HTML and making your own site usually takes no longer than it would for a professional to program you one. Unless you require a flash enable site, large statistic monitoring, detailed forms, etc. using 'what-you-see-is-what-you-get' website generators are usually the most economical and time saving.Making fliers is simple with computer graphics programs such as Paint.NET and GIMP, both of which are free and easy to use. Mass printing services are often cheaper than using ones own printer, and the price usually includes cutting and binding. Fliers can be posted in many public locations, such as libraries and public bulletin boards.
Newspaper ads are generally cheap and can generate a fair amount of viewings depending on the circulation of the newspaper. Newspaper inserts, while more costly, will be seen by more readers, as it is present as soon as the paper is opened.
Utilize New Companies
Most established research firms have very large costs associated with their services. The average small business owner or startup company cannot afford to use their services. However, most newer research firms have drastically lower prices and are more open to working with small businesses or startups. Putting in a good word or review for in addition to a much smaller fee may be all thats needed to get specific market research done.
Ask Your Customers Opinion
Your customers have something to say, whether it be about your products, services, customer service, building, or employee attitude. Ask them for those opinions – most will be more than happy to offer you two minutes of their time.Customer satisfaction surveys can be preformed in a number of ways. Most often it comes in the form of a paper survey left in a public location like a counter or special booth. Other times, if the customer base is small or you only have a few clients, asking them directly for their opinions may be all thats needed.
Free Opportunities
Take advantage of every free opportunity available. If there is a school job event going on, volunteer to be a guest speaker. Whether you speak about starting a business, the necessity of good education, or your specific industry, there will be a chance for free promotion at the end. Printing out t-shirt logo iron-ons, handing out pencils or memo pads, etc. are all times kids will likely show their parents when returning home. Never try to sell or persuade customers to your company via this method, however, as it will be viewed poorly and you not be invited back, as well as being blacklisted from future events.
Use Your Current Customers
Give you current customers an incentive to recommend their friends. If you offer a reward, free item or service, or other bonus in return for a customer referral, they will be more likely to recommend you to their friends.
Use the Internet
Many think about Internet marketing as their website. In actuality, a company website does very little in terms of drawing in new customers; it is primarily for the advantage and convenience of current customers.Internet marketing requires a more personal (and time consuming) approach. Keeping a blog and regularly maintaining it with good keywords is a good way to not only draw in new customers, but also maintain current ones. Posting in forums and chat rooms is also a good way to market. Post in both product-specific forums and general ones. In either, you can place a simple link to your store website as a signature. Search the Internet for users specifically trying to find the items you sell. Kindly answer their questions, and direct them to your site. However, avoiding spamming, because this is the best way to get blocked and have your company avoided.
Get a Business Card
A business card may seem archaic in a world where everything is electronic, but is it still one of the most valuable and easy to obtain marketing tool. There are many services, both locally and on the web, that will print and cut the required number of business cards for your company. You can either design your own logo in a graphics manipulation program, or you can use a pre-designed image and simply enter your information.Business cards have an interesting way of getting around. It seems that every business card eventually makes its way into a dozens hands, and being able to hand them out to anyone you meet who may demonstrate an interest in your service is a convenience that email and websites are yet to offer.
List Yourself
Both local print periodicals and the Internet have listings of businesses. These listings offer the general information about your company, such as address, phone number, and any other information you supply. In addition, it will often have a small description of your company, possibly a rating, and, in the case of Internet reviews, a list of customer comments.Review your information in the local print listings and make sure they are correct. In addition, visit online listings and add your company to them. A good source of listing can be found in several places. A few good sites are: dexknows.com, local.yahoo.com, and bigbook.com. Search for your company, and if its not already listed, add it. This is a chance for free advertisement. You get to place a detailed description of your company and the services you offer, in addition to a comment and rating if you are so inclined.
Asking current customers, especially repeat customers, to leave a comment/rating on the site in return for a small gift or reward is nearly always adequate for getting comments.
Join Associations
What local associations deal with your companies subject matter? Teaming up with an association and attending events and meetings (with a lot of business cards in hand) is a good marketing strategy for several reasons. First, it allows other company owners to meet you. It also demonstrates interest in the community and a willingness to be involved. It is also a good way to get your business cards and name circulating.A good example would joining a group that is related in subject matter to your company. For example, if you own a pet store of some kind, whether it be with grooming or supplies or adoption, join a local animal association. Join out reach groups, or rights groups, or anything else that will get publicity and welcome your involvement.
Finally, post information about those groups and your involvement within your store, ideally in a window. This will help draw to customers, and may get sales just to support your efforts.
Hold Car Washes
This is especially good if you have a store that sells cheap junk food, like candy and pop. Allow schools and other organizations to hold car washes in your parking lot. This will draw many people to your business, and likely result in a fair amount of sales from both the thirsty workers and the people waiting for their cars to finish.Fund raisers are also a good way to draw attention, though depending on the type, they may be a little more difficult to organize. If your business does not currently receive a large amount of visitors, car washes may be a better option than fund raising.
Local schools are most likely to hold car washes. If you want to invite them, head over to the school and meet with the principal. Leave your business card and name and personally let him or her know that you would be more than happy to host school car washes.
Marketing is a necessity. It is the core upon which profits and sales are made. Customers are drawn to your business via marketing, and sales and profits are the results of those customers. Finding ways to promote your business does not have to be expensive. The Internet has opened a large array of opportunities, such as t-shirt designing and fast business cards. In addition, simple personal tricks like car washes and charity groups can bring the attention needed.