For first-time and seasoned entrepreneurs alike, marketing a business can be a tremendously stressful affair. If you’re not a savvy marketer, the long-term health and very existence of your company is at risk. The good news is that any business can be marketed effectively if you use the following tactics to get your name out there.
Go Free, Low-Tech & Local
Even if your business is mostly focused on the web, a local on-the-ground campaign can work wonders. Handbills, flyers and tear-off coupons spread around the community are a good way to start. It’s cheap or nearly free since your literal legwork is the only thing that’s required to spread the message. This is a really great way to get your close friends and family involved as well. They definitely can be a huge help when it comes to marketing your business. Your community is always a great place to start when it comes to things like this.
Use Bulk Snail Mail
Unless it’s an election year, bulk promotional mail isn’t guaranteed to end up in the trash. In fact, mass mailings can do your business a world of good provided it provokes an immediate positive reaction from recipients. Luckily there are a lot of great ways to send out mail in bulk fast. That is just one of the benefits of lettershop mailing services. Before you go about sending out your mail compile a mailing list of promising future customers and fire off a few informational cards and coupons. Gauge the reaction and refine the process as needed. You can definitely be surprised by how well this type of marketing can work.
Pay for Digital Exposure
Paid advertising doesn’t have to entail radio spots or commercials on local cable access channels. Nowadays, most businesses leverage online platforms such as Google AdWords and Facebook Ads. Thanks to the data-mining capabilities of major tech companies, businesses of any size can reach exactly the right potential customers as they surf the web. Ads like this can be visible to the public regularly. Most everyone is online now-a-days so utilizing digital sources can definitely be a great way to get the attention your business is looking for.
Leverage Grassroots Social Media
One of the cheapest and most effective ways to reach new customers is via social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube. The most successful social media campaigns are a mix of content marketing and networking. Establish yourself as a trusted authority in your field and make connections with potential customers. Social Media is something that most people take a part in every day. This is definitely one of the best and most effective ways to put your business out there. Word definitely travels fast on different social media sites. It is essential that you do all you can to take advantage of them.
Engineer a Viral Online Hit
Viral marketing is all the rage nowadays with both small businesses and giant corporations. A single video posted on YouTube or Vimeo can be seen by millions in short order if you create something original. Come up with a short video clip that lends itself to social media sharing and watch the views roll in.
The Perfect Promotional Mix
An agile business in today’s economy has to attack on all fronts to nail down a marketing program that delivers results. What works for one business won’t necessarily pan out for another. Experiment with the options described here and carefully disseminate the feedback to zero in on the right approach. Feedback from your customers can be the most effective way to find the best marketing technique.
