Whether you own a small business, a large
business, a new one or an old one, one thing is for sure. If people
don't know about you, they can't buy from you. So, how do you let people
know what is going on with your business, or even that your business
exists? Marketing allows you to find your niche audience and allows you
to inform potential customers about what is going on with your business.
There are many proven marketing techniques. In this article we will
talk about 17 great ideas for marketing your business, this includes
using merchandise, through social media, using different types of
referral programs and much more.
Merchandise
Having merchandise on hand to give away is a great way to promote your business.
Merchandise
Having merchandise on hand to give away is a great way to promote your business.
- Post it notes are a great promotional tool. Find an affordable printer and have some custom made. Give them to local schools, the admin of the school can hand them out to the teachers who will then use them for lots of things, such as, memos to other teachers, parents, and students, etc.
- Pens are another great piece of merchandise that will end up being passed around.
- Folders/Binders are another great promotional tool that can be donated to schools.
- Invest in company t-shirts if your budget will allow it. Wear them at every chance, give a few out in a contest and encourage employees to wear them .
Use your printer
Print fliers, half fliers and brochures which highlight the strengths and selling points of your business. If you don't know how to create a flier, brochure or poster, keep in mind that there are plenty of businesses out there who specialize in this task. You can have something designed and given to you digitally so that you can print them on your own. There are also programs such as Microsoft Publisher which will allow you to easily format things like brochures and fliers.
Business cards
Many companies offer amazing deals on business cards. Make sure all of your employees have their own cards. This is perhaps the most obvious form of marketing and it is by far one of the most effective. Give your business card out at every opportunity. Scribble notes to others on them, leave them with other businesses, and hand them out to all people - not just the ones who fit your niche customers. If you make a lot of email transactions you may want to have a digital copy of your business card to include in each email.
Word of mouth
Talk about your business to people when you get the chance. Offer great customer service and that will encourage others to talk about your business too. There are several ways to mention your business in a conversation without changing the subject to always be about it.
Referral programs
There are many different ways to run a referral program. Using business cards is my favorite. For a small fee you can have print added to the back of your cards when ordering them. If you add, REFERRED BY: Customers can write their name in and pass it on to a friend. Offering an award such as a percentage off or a free product will encourage people to pass them on.
Rewards programs
Rewards programs are growing in popularity, and your business should get in on the action. If possible try creating or finding a computer program that will keep track of rewards members purchases. If you want to do it the old way you can have reward cards printed through your business card printer. Use a special punch or signature to confirm purchases. After so much spent or so many visits, offer a free product or percent off.
Coupons
With shows about couponing growing in popularity, coupons have become an excellent way to get new customers and to reward old ones. Always be sure to cover your bases and make the terms of your coupons very clear, so that you are not being taken advantage of. For instance, if you are offering a 10% off coupon, you may want to add the phrase (One coupon per transaction.) Otherwise a customer could legally use ten of these coupons and get your item/service at no cost.
Contests
Host a contest online or offline to draw in new customers. Try to keep the contest simple yet related to your business. For example, if you own a child's clothing boutique a coloring contest for kids is an excellent idea. Set up a table in the store, where children can color while their parents browse the store. Try to make the prize worth the trouble of getting out and participating in the contest. A great contest to host online is "most shares, likes, comments etc in a week." Only allow so many per person per day so that they don't spam.
Giveaways
Giving away free stuff is a great way to grab attention and to draw in new customers. Make it fun. One way to do this would be to log on to one of your businesses social networking pages and posting something like.... "The first person to come in the store and say ...'this business rocks' will get a free pizza." Or "the first 10 customers to come in and mention seeing this ad on Facebook will get 20% off their purchase." This method works great to draw in people who may be deciding what to buy or where to shop.
In-store event
Free hotdogs, free coffee, free soda, you get the idea. People love free stuff and people love to be social. Use any excuse possible to have an in store event. Sports games, elections, holidays etc.. Draw people in with free stuff and spend some time getting to know them while they are there.
Online events
Week long online events have been proven to increase in store activity and to introduce new customers to your store. An example of an online event would be: If you own a restaurant, use you social networking sites, your blog etc. to announce to costumers that you are having a "photograph your meal" event. Have people take pictures of food they ordered from your store and post it to your Facebook wall, on Instagram, Flickr, or twitter and tag your business in it. Since most people have a phone handy this is a fun interactive event. Each time someone participates enter their name to win a free meal. Try the same kind of event for other businesses such as: photograph yourself in our clothes, photograph your receipt, or photograph your pet after a grooming.
Communicate
Saying hello can go a long way, but what I am talking about here is for you to be interested in your customers and create in them an interest in you and your store. Ask them how their day was and actually care and listen when they answer, ask about family members you know, ask how their experience visiting your business has been. By getting to know and actually becoming friends with your customers they are more likely to spread the word about your business. Think about how many times you have been looking for a service or item and a friend has recommended another friend.
Social networking
Okay, you have a Facebook page, you have a twitter, you have Instagram, but does your business have accounts with these networking sites? I have already mentioned several ways that using these sites can help you promote your business, and there are more. Use these sites to interact with and to get to know your customers. Connecting with customers online is a great way to get instant feedback about how your business is doing.
Pictures
Take some great pictures of your products, randomly post them on your social networking or photo sharing sites. Use enticing keywords and encourage others to share. There are a lot of great sites for this, Pinterest is one of the best. Take spontaneous pictures during business hours and post them to Facebook or twitter. Pictures that intrigue people are the most effective. One example would be if your store is extremely crowded take a quick picture and post with a caption like "Must be cold outside! Look at all these folks in here warming up!" Or if you are building a new stand or fixture, take a quick pic and post it with a caption like, "hmm, wonder what this could be?"
Write and Review
Write articles about your business, publish them online or in local papers for free advertising. Ask or hire others to try your products and to write quick reviews about them in their blogs or on their social networking sites.
Volunteer
Volunteering works on many levels when it comes to advertising for your business. There are lots of great causes that are looking for help. Volunteer for things like relay for life, homeless food places, meals on wheels and other events. Not only will you be helping someone, you will also be setting a reputation up that you care about the community. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to meet and network with other people who could be potential customers. If possible include your business in the endeavor. If, for example, you own a photography studio, volunteer to photograph events that you are helping with. Building with Habitats for humanity? Photograph the event and write a press release. Own a car repair shop? Offer free tune ups for meals on wheels vehicles.
Sponsor
Sponsor a group, a single person, or sponsor an event. If you have the funds to sponsor, you should. Require that your business name be prominently displayed, meet with the group or person to talk to them about what to say to people who ask about your business. Again, try to incorporate your business type when choosing what or who to sponsor. If you make motocross equipment, sponsor motocross events, photographers should sponsor sports teams, or even churches, this allows them to network. Think outside the box when choosing who or what to sponsor. Own a liqueur store? Sponsor an event at a nearby bar such as a beer pong tourney.
You should always try to think beyond the normal ideas of advertising. After all, this is your business. Always notice the advertisements that are catching your attention. Did your coffee cup have an ad on it that enticed you to try a pastry? Did you see a bumper sticker that made you want to check out a website? Advertisements are all around us, in almost every situation we are being sold something. Take notice of these creative techniques and find your own unique advertising ideas.
