Many new business owners find themselves overwhelmed by the
concept of marketing, and it can certainly be difficult when you’re
not sure where to start or what to do. So how do you go about
getting customers or clients?
Business promotion doesn’t have to be hard or expensive, in fact,
there are 5 easy and inexpensive things you can do to spread the
word about your business:
Business cards:
Modern technology has enabled business owners to create their
own quality business cards inexpensively. Many software programs
like MS Word and MS Publisher have built-in templates for making
business cards, so the only items you need are a decent printer
and business card stock (which can be purchased from almost any
business supply store). Then you simply type in your information,
add your logo, and print them out. Don’t forget to encourage
people to call you or visit your website by putting a special offer on
the back.
Another easy and affordable option is to order them online at
places like VistaPrint.com. But don’t go overboard and order
thousands at a time; 100 or even 250 will be more than enough
for you to get started.
Website:
Millions of people are using the Internet everyday to search for
information or to shop online, so having your own website will
allow you to tap into a worldwide market. You can purchase a
domain name from GoDaddy.com for a few dollars, and hosting can
be had for as little as $5 from places like HostGator.com. Many
hosting companies have a built-in website builder which will make
it easy for a beginner to get their website online, or you can do a
search for pre-made website templates.
If you sell products and will need a shopping cart system, you’ll be
better off using an all-in-one service like PappaShop.com or
WahmShoppes.com. For a small monthly fee you will have an
online store and shopping cart that will work with the popular
merchants like PayPal.com. Adding products and pictures is super
easy when you use a system like this. And again, you can
purchase a pre-made store template from a place like
HeavenDesignz.com to really give your website a professional look
without the expense of hiring a designer.
Seminars/Teleseminars :
Offering a free seminar or workshop on a topic related to your
business is a great way to generate buzz and bring potential
customers and clients directly to you. You can do this alone, or
invite other business owners in your niche as guest speakers.
Having guest speakers adds value to your seminar, but it also
helps you build a contact list for future joint ventures.
Joint Ventures:
A joint venture is when you team up with other business owners
on a project in order to promote your respective businesses. You
can work together to create a new product, a membership
program, or just to put together a seminar.
The first step to creating a joint venture is to find other businesses
within your niche that are not your competition, but rather
businesses who will compliment your own. Then you simply
approach the business of interest and ask if you can work
together. For the most part, joint ventures mean that you will
equally share all costs and profits, and the project offers benefits
to both partners.
Press Releases:
Press releases are a great marketing tool, not to mention
completely free. A press release is nothing more than a 1-2 page
article that informs people of a newsworthy event relating to your
business. You can announce your grand opening, a fundraiser, or
even a special promotion, and submit it online and to your local
media. If a reporter or editor likes what they read, they may
contact you for an interview that could land you in the paper or on
television.
Your press release may be a reflection of your business, therefore
it should always be professionally written. To learn the correct
format to press release writing, you can search online for
information and samples, or you can hire a writer to do write it for
you.
Promoting your business is not going to be a one-time thing, it’s
something that must be done on a regular basis. So get those
business cards out there, submit press releases regularly, tell
others about your website, and hold seminars to bring those
customers and clients’ right to you. All your hard work and
dedication will eventually pay off, and the results will be worth the
time and effort that you must put in to marketing your business.
About the author:
Mindy Benkert is a successful internet marketer and mom. In her Free E-Course, she shares 10 Proven Ways To Quickly and Easily
Promote Your Business. Sign up today!
