7 Tips to Promote your Business

Invest in your success

1.       Print Advertising

Yes you got it! That forgotten form of advertising that is still one of the best ways to reach your customers by using your company Logo & Name and attaching it to everything you can think of. This is the beginning step in the Branding of your business.
Flyers, Brochures, Business Cards, Magnets, Gadgets, Postcards, Newsletters, Posters, Calendars, Window Cling, Car Wraps, etc…

2.       Trade Shows

Attend as many trade shows as you can handle in one year. This is a great opportunity to mix and mingle with a large volume of people, most trade shows have events that you can sponsor or may give you the opportunity to be a guest speaker on a topic related to the event, you may even be able offer a service right at your booth. Trade shows have a way of getting your name out to a whole new audience.

3.       Build a Website

Social Media today is a thriving and a challenging place to publicize or even get your name out, so it would be almost unthinkable that even a local café or pet store will not have at least one website with the operational details such as location and hours. Not having a website means not having a point of contact for the growing number of people who Google everything first, map it second and then decide on their options to buy a service or product, based on the website details and its overall appearance. Having a strong but easy to maneuver website is crucial.

4.       Start a Blog

Be the expert in your field, it can give great value to your service or product if you talk about it. This is also a great portal to gain an audience of followers who love to read reviews about products or who want to hear what you have to say. Give your business value by knowing in depth your products and services. Then go out and blog about them! Have the confidence it takes to put yourself in the spotlight for others to get to know. 

5.       Tweet

I know not everyone enjoys twitter but the truth is it can be just another way for you to create clients. Go slow and target your market, find your niche and then tweet facts or info that matter to you. It’s not about the number of followers you gain but the knowledge that you share about your products and services. Tweet at least one thing each and every day, the results may not be large but what you will do is put your business name out to millions of readers and that alone is enough for me, and oh yeah it’s Free!

6.       Facebook

Your business must have a Facebook page, yes it must. Facebook has the biggest audience out there and if you are not using it then you are limiting the growth of your business. Facebook is not the place to sell your products or services, it is the tool to give product knowledge and promote upcoming specials. Facebook fans love quick info with great pictures and quotes or ideas. Don’t use this site for the hard sell; use it like a friend you share great opportunities with. It’s free!

7.       Pin It

The latest and hottest growing craze right now is Pinterest. People are pinning like mad out there and enjoying every minute of it. Pinterest is a social media site that is taking the idea of picture sharing to an all-time new level. For most it is a quick and easy way to peruse all of their interests in one location and gain ideas while sharing their passions with others. Just hop onto their site and sign up for a business account, upload all of your info including your verified website and you are ready to start, but be careful this site can turn ten minutes of pinning into two hours gone before you know it. Did I mention it's free!

The fact of the matter is this; the return on a marketing investment is very low. We live in a trust and verify world out there and consumers want to know you have the best product or service for them. They also want to be sure that your services are consistent and that your business has longevity with the ability to adapt your business in a fast changing economy and are able to stay on top of the latest and greatest, whatever that may be.

So here is my advice: Be the best, be consistent and have a long term plan, your customers and clients will then become your best marketing campaign.

Word of Mouth, would that then be number 8?

Cheers,

Toni