If the economic climate we are in makes you nervous as a small business owner, plan a more aggressive approach to your sales and marketing.
In an effort to reduce costs, businesses have all cut back on their marketing budgets and that is the beginning of their downfall. People will buy from those they remember – and they will remember much better the business whom they have seen or heard of recently!
So, if you do not market they will forget you and when the economy starts recovering, whether that is in a few months or in a couple of years and the people start spending again they will buy from the ones who kept marketing. It is a given that you will always want your products or services to fulfill the needs of your customers but never has this been more evident than during today’s sluggish economy. Spending on big ticket items has declined and if your product is not considered a necessity, you need to market it to your customer as “important.” You need to solve a problem, satisfy a need, or make life easier in a cost-effective manner to grab their attention.
The inexpensive marketing ideas below will help you stay under budget, in contact with your current customers, reach new potential clients and increase your sales.
1. DEVELOP AN INTERNET PRESENCE
First things first, If you don’t have a company website, now is the time to create one. Make sure that you include not only your company logo, and contact information but plenty of details on your services and products and how they can benefit your potential customers.
2. JOIN THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES
Facebook , Linked In, Myspace , Google + and Twitter are all free to join up and have the potential to boost your brand and significantly increase awareness about your company. You can build credibility in your field with every piece of content you post online by blogging, tweeting, sharing, and updating about things relevant to your industry.
3. WRITE A COMPANY NEWSLETTER
Make your company newsletter exciting and fun! Email it out at regular intervals, whether weekly, monthly or quarterly. Include specials you are running, coupons, industry information, company news or even a blog! The important thing is to be in your customers memory as a household name when they have a need for what you are selling. Which brings us to….
4. PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS
Promotional products can be an inexpensive way to get-and keep- your name in front of current and potential clients. An effective promotional campaign can increase propensity to buy. If your brand gives away something for free and remains relevant in the commercial world, gratitude and recognition will preside; increasing ROI figures. Most of all, promotional products show that you can be personable and have a fun side. Business should not all be about deals, contracts and money. A little bit of light hearted fun will win over the clients any day of the week. There are many companies online that specialize in selling unique giveaways with your company logo on it. One such company would be Best Little PromoHouse In Texas, 🙂 www.promotionalproducts.net, a Dallas based company that has been in business over 20 years and has oodles of experience in economical, fun promos.
TIPS
Whether you implement one or all of these new strategies, you can pat yourself on the back for being proactive and not just becoming a statistic in the abyss of this economy. Remember, Once we have taken control over our business outcome we can start to see a change in our workplace and community. The people who succeed best sell solutions. They bring solutions to observed problems rather than merely complaining about conditions. So, follow the solutions above and see what amazing things can happen!
I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious effort. Henry David Thoreau(1)
