Ten marketing tips to help promote your small business

Are you a small business or start up? Do you sometimes feel invisible? Here are ten low cost marketing ideas guaranteed to boost your profile.

1) Word of mouth

Word of mouth is the most cost-effective, powerful form of promotion. Write a list of 50 people you know but don’t see regularly – relatives, friends, ex-colleagues etc. Send each of them a friendly email or postcard to let them know what you’re up to.

Ask them for feedback, advice or contacts of anyone who might be interested in hearing about your business. Don’t be shy! People love to help. For practical tips on promoting your small business visit Guerrilla Marketing.

2) Networking

Networking may seem intimidating but there are ways to make it less scary. Don’t feel you have to sell, sell, sell - the number one rule of networking is to listen. It’s about building relationships - go to a networking event looking for opportunities to help others.

Ask questions, gather information, offer contacts and advice – people will remember you for it. Networking PLUS is Business Link’s popular monthly speed-networking event – for details visit the events section on the Business Link website.

3) Business cards

Your business card needs to stand out from the crowd. Get a new batch printed on unusual material – textured card, plastic, wood – or make it an unusual shape.

Offer a business tip or special offer on the back. Include your photo on the card – this makes it more personal, easier to remember you and harder to throw away! For excellent free tips on killer business cards see Card Sharks on the Lean Marketing website.

4) The internet

The web is an amazing market place to promote your business – but it’s easy to feel lost or insignificant. If you don’t have a website or if you want to promote your website to a targeted audience, join Affinity Trading Network – an active online network for small businesses. You get a full web profile about you and your business and access to the lively Trading Boards, providing an effective way to increase your online exposure.

5) Newsletters

Newsletters are a great way to build up a following, sign up potential customers and provide people with a regular reminder about your services. Write a simple one page resource of news, advice and latest offers each month. Run a competition or poll. Promote your customers or suppliers. Use it to build your reputation as a useful hub of up-to-date information. Encourage feedback, keep it enjoyable and personal.

6) Testimonials

Customer testimonials support your credibility. It’s good practice to ask clients for regular feedback either verbally or in a quick customer satisfaction survey. When you have a happy customer – ask whether you could get a quote from them.

Be clear as to how you will use the testimonial – on your website, in your newsletter or letterhead etc. Make sure you accredit the quote explicitly with the name of the client – anonymous testimonials don’t hold much punch. After all, testimonials can also give your clients good publicity.

7) Cold calling

The mere thought of making a cold call can send shivers down your spine! However, it is a highly targeted way to promote your business. Don’t expect to close a deal over the phone – again this is about finding out information as much as selling.

Use phone calls as the first step to getting to know your prospective clients better. Don’t make a full pitch but arrange an appointment or ask permission to send on further materials about your business. And remember to speak s-l-o-w-l-y! For a Cold Calling Crash course to get you over your fears and anxieties, take a look at How to be successful at cold calling.

8) Referrals

Referrals are an effective and inexpensive way to increase your business and build your credibility. Ask each of your clients or suppliers for three contacts of other people who might like to find out more about your business. You don’t have to be pushy – you could offer to reciprocate and provide three useful contacts in return.

Make it a regular habit to give referrals as well as ask for them. For some interesting articles and advice on how to generate an effective referral system, visit the resource section on the Abundant Referrals website.

9) Press releases

Any press release you do must be targeted. There is little point sending round a generic press release to hundreds of newspapers. Start by focusing on five publications ideal for your target market.

Read back editions thoroughly – understand what kind of stories they like to publish and the style of language they use. Find a relevant news hook and tailor your press release specifically for each publication. The first paragraph is key and must provide the who, what, where, when and why of your story. For a guide to writing successful press releases read Get that press release write! and How to write an eye-catching press release.

10) Passion and persistence are the most important tools to promote your small business
If you try each of the strategies above and build them into a regular marketing plan, you will certainly boost your profile, without a doubt!

About the Author
Article written by Jo Hill, For further resources and tips on marketing visit Affinity Trading Network.