new business marketing ideas
You are in need of an effective
small business marketing strategy. You have taken your idea, your passion, your
dream and are now getting your start in business. However, as you set out to
make a huge splash in the market, you struggle to generate a ‘buzz’ and word of
mouth is not talking loudly enough.
As a small business, it is
unlikely that you are going to have huge resources to plough into a
multi-national, multi-platform, multi-media marketing campaign - but strategies
of any size need to get the fundamentals right. Here are ten things that you
must do if you want your first campaign to be a successful one.
1. Host
An Event: generate
a buzz around your business by hosting an event that will get tongues wagging.
Invite potential customers, industry experts and the press.
2.
Press Release: writing
a press release about your business (or an event) can be very effective. Push
your businesses’ USP to make it newsworthy and try and get it published in
print and online.
3. Corporate
Gifts: whether
as part of an event or as a small business marketing strategy on its own, using
branded corporate promotional gifts (aka freebies) is a tried and tested
method.
4. QR
Codes: at
events, in advertising, online and on stationary, include QR codes that direct
customers to your website or to promotional offers.
5. SMS
Messaging: alongside
QR codes you should keep a leads list of telephone numbers who you can target
with offers, discounts and promotions.
6.
Attend Events: as well
as hosting your own events you should attend as many industry events as
possible. This will make you a well-known name within your industry.
7.
Social Networks: you
probably already have a social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and
Twitter, amongst others, but this small business marketing strategy is to
ensure that you update your profiles regularly and give the online community an
incentive to link to you, such as targeted offers and giveaways.
8.
Traditional Networks: there
is no substitute for traditional networking so get out there, shake hands, and
make contacts.
9. SEO: any effective online strategy must include
some amount of Search Engine Optimization to drive customers to your website.
10.
Realism: be
realistic in your expectations and how you judge the effectiveness of a
strategy. Also be realistic about what you offer to customers: always ensure
that you can provide what you say you can.
