How to spread the word and market your business

If you just spend a few minutes a day you can come up with a marketing plan that can help carry your business forward keeping current customers and reaching out to new markets
Did you know that marketing your business is almost a full time job? It is if you want to do it effectively. But you have enough to do during the course of a day to simply run your business, so we’ve found five ways to help you market your business. Some of these tips you might have hear of an some you may never have even considered.
While not every marketing effort will pay off for every business, you know your industry and your client demographic so keep that in mind. The time of year can also play a part in whether your marketing campaign yields the results that you are hoping for. As an example, a postcard mailing you sent in the summer may not work – or might get lost in the deluge – around the holidays. Peruse the tips and try to think of ways to work them into your marketing program to shake things up a bit.

1. Partner up – Check with colleagues or networking partners to see if they are doing a mailing; if so, see if you can partner up and slip your brochure or business card into the mailing. This strategy spreads your name to a new market. You can return the favor on your next mailing.
2. Be front of mind — If you have a customer who recently purchased your goods or utilized your service send them a follow up offer. Did they stop by your floral shop to have an arrangement sent for their mother’s birthday? Send them a post card with a money-off offer for their next purchase. Create urgency – attach a deadline to the offer. Use your on hold messages to stay top-of-mind.
3. Make a great first impression – Have you ever considered answering your phone differently? Rather than saying, “Thank you for calling ABC Company,” why not announce a special offer your company is running. Try this, “Hello, this is Jane Doe with ABC Company, did you know we’re offering a buy one get one free deal, this week only?” Make the offer urgent by putting a deadline that is time sensitive.
4. Share the news – Send out an e-newsletter. Did you know it takes, on average, six times more to make a sale to a new customer than to keep an existing one? Use your newsletters to focus on marketing to past customers. Consider setting up an opt-in on your website and then send out monthly newsletters to your list.
5. Welcome them in — Do you have an office? Why not have an open house? Ever consider hosting a mini-seminar? You have an area of expertise, right? Why not spread the word about who you are and what you do by offering a 30-minute seminar to your customers and potential customers? Host an event and it might garner media coverage for your business.