Joyce Oladipo(57) Joyce Oladipo Client Attraction Strategies Log in to become a member of Joyce Oladipo's Fan Club!
Small business owners always seem to run out of cash for advertising, marketing and promotions. It’s quite difficult to keep in budget and achieve a good result. Here are seven things you can do to market your business effectively without breaking the bank.
1. Write Column about your business A lot of local magazine are looking for regular contributors. Can you provide a column for your local newspaper or shoppers guide? Try and write a press release about an event you did in your local comminute. You can start working with a charity organisation and write a press release about it or you can give away some money to the best obedient dog own in on a dog show and write something about it. See if you can schedule a series of memorable events that you can write about your business.
2. Teach a class Try teaching a design or gift class. You would be amazed how many people would be interested in your class. I teach classes on marketing, business cards and brochure design, website marketing, sales and customer service. They bring me customers and I provide a service to the community.
3. Hold Contests There is always going to be time when business is slow. Try pumping up sales with a contest. As a giftpreneur, have gift basket design contests, biggest gift basket, or ugliest gift basket design. Tailor the contest to your business or a local event. Kids love contests and often get the parents involved.
4. Try low-cost ads Even if you are under budget you can still run an ad in the local paper, try several smaller ads in shoppers papers. Also use the classifieds. These can sometimes give you more exposure for the buck than one large single ad.
5. Creative advertising There are a lot of creative ways you can use to get attention. Have unusual sales or giveaways at odd times. Try sponsoring an event and invite the press. I could be for cancer, women’s day. You can do a customer survey and get free publicity from the press. You can have a press release proclaiming what your company did to save a dying company or how you helped them boost sales.
6. Have an effective business card and carry them with you Always have your business card with you all the time. Even when you send a direct mail, bill or letters always send you business card. Such a simple thing but most businesses never capitalize on it. If I ever had the opportunity to send a bill, I always send my check with my business card. I don't care what bill ‘am paying, water bill, electric bill, credit cards, mortgage loan and all insurance bills. I make it a habit to give cards out in grocery stores, salons, gym and gas stations. I don't walk up to people and say, "Here take my card." I find a reason to talk to them ask a few questions, they eventually ask me, "Well, what do you do." At the right time, I’ll give them my card. I even had them made as a calendar magnet.
7. Always Say "Thank You." Always show to your customer that you appreciate then. Those who truly feel special will send you referrals of their friends, colleagues, neighbours and who ever they think might need your service. Write a letter or at the very least, make a phone call, that the least you can do.
Marketing doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Be smart, be creative, and do some of the things that your competition isn't.
Online entrepreneur Joyce O. Oladipo, "Client Attraction Maven " publishes the award-winning 'Attractive Marketing' e-zine with 1750 subscribers. Assisted thousands of small businesses to attract new clients. I started and filled up my own successful beauty consulting practice in less than 10 months, and now am creating the Client Breakthough System to help you get more clients, in no time, frequently.
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