30 Marketing Tips

1.) Attend business networking groups!  Join your local chamber and other business networking groups. The key is to be active on committees and attend events consistently.  Always wear a name badge and be sure to wear a badge with your business logo included.  If networking group offers new member advertising packages be sure to use the FREE offers before they expire and ask about a directory listing and link to your website from the group’s website.  

2.) Seek out FREE business help and mentors in your area [attend free seminars].

SBDC www.salemstate.edu/sbdc ; SCORE, www.scorenemass.gov  ; Salem Enterprise Center,  www.enterprisectr.org

3.) Create a MARKETING THINK GROUP with employees, friends, family who know your product and can help to come up with creative marketing ideas.

4.) Have a LOGO created that incorporates your web address as part of the logo.

5.) BE MEMORABLE…Create a clever tagline to brand on all marketing materials and be sure to use it at networking events!  

6.) Print-up tons of business cards [double sided....it costs pennies to add another message to the backside of your card] and give people more than one card and ask them to give it to someone who could use your services.

7.)  Hand-out flyers and post them on bulletin boards where they allow flyers to be posted.  Give extra flyers to family and friends about your services in case they have opportunity to hand them out or display them at work.

8.) Make sure you use an email signature and it has ALL your contact info and a tag-line where you promote your brand or tell of a special offer. Consider promoting a special offer at the bottom of signature or links to your Social Media pages. Have an active link in your signature to your website! Use this signature ALWAYS, even when emailing friends and established clients!

9.) Email ready to print press releases to help spread the word about events and special happenings with your business. [Contact the papers and other publications in your area to find out who the contact person is, what format to type the press release in and try to connect with someone on that staff so you have a better chance to get your press release in the newspaper.] 

10.) SPEAK! Reach out to local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, Business Networking Groups, Non-Profit Organizations, and local Libraries etc. to lecture about your expertise in business.*be sure to invite clients, colleagues, and prospects to your speaking engagements and self-promote through email marketing, social media and your own website.

11.) Put magnetic signs on your car promoting your business. [note: may require commercial plates so check with registry in your area.]

12.) Create a website, a strong internet presence and be ACTIVE on Social Media Sites. Even if you do not sell products on-line, you need a website & an internet presence. There are affordable templates & web designers who can help. *Be sure to list your site on multiple FREE sites to help get your business a higher ranking on Google and drive traffic to your website.  And, utilize FREE sites like Facebook, Linkedin, Google+, Twitter, Youtube, and Pinterest to promote your brand and connect with potential clients.

13.) Give away advice and knowledge. People always remember

14.) Write articles for other blogs and connect with POPULAR social media pages in your community and add comments and post to their pages. Figure out who the top bloggers in your industry and reach out and pitch them some articles or ideas you would like to write about for their blog. Bloggers are always looking for great content. Look for the people in your community who have a strong following on Facebook or other social media sites and make comments on their postings and post your own messages on their page.  [note: be careful to make sure you are not posting ads on their page or being “spammy”.]

15.) Look for sites with Online Event Calendars to add upcoming events and special happenings with your business for FREE.  Most of the local online newspapers have these, business networking websites, the local patch.com and places like Whofish.org

16.) Consider Discount Social Buying Sites like Groupon, Coupons.com and other discounted deal sites. *Note: be sure to add incentives to make sure that people return later.

17.) No money to have a table at a business expo?  Walk the floor with plenty of business cards and connect with someone at each booth if possible. Follow-up with them either by phone, mail or email and create the connection back to the business expo.

18.) Encourage customers to sign-up for your email newsletters or blog. Use an email newsletter hosting company that will offer easy to use newsletter template designs and provide the opt-in link for your home page of your website and a way for members on your list to opt-out of the newsletter if they no longer wish to receive it.  A company can harm their on-line reputation by emailing people without their permission which is known as SPAMMING and potentially lose clients and potential clients.

19.) Always thank your clients for being a client and ask for referrals. And, refer business to others when possible!

20.) Word of mouth advertising!  Make sure you contact everyone you know and tell them that you now have a business

21.) Make time for one on ones where you learn about someone else’s business and they learn about yours.

22.) Find a charity that you can help.  Consider offering your place of business as one of the places people can drop off donations to the charity. *Most of all make sure that you are genuine in your desire to HELP the charity and do not use it as a time for self promotion. Good deeds will pay off without you needing to push your business information.

23.) Never buy rate card for your advertising and don't jump at every advertising sales rep that walks in the door promising great results.  Hire an affordable advertising agency to negotiate great rates, get better results and save you money. [This is a time that buying direct can actually cost you more money so be sure to get some help from an experienced agency.]

24.) Offer CASH or a discount off your services for referrals.  Tell your friends, family, business colleagues and acquaintances about your business and what you have to offer and share that you will reward them for their help!

25.) Barter! No money for advertising? Consider bartering for a radio spot or ad space in magazines or newspaper by offering your services or product as a prize giveaway.

26.) Share the Cost of Your Advertisement! Approach other businesses near your location or seek out businesses that compliment your business and share the cost of printing flyers, buying ad space, or even doing a TV or Radio campaign together.

27.) Cut the size of your ad, but be sure to get ATTENTION within the ad with creative messaging. 

28.) Stay positive! No matter what is happening behind the scenes at your business, always smile and stay positive. People worry about doing business with struggling companies because they may not be around if there is a problem with the product later. Lead by example. If you believe in your product.....others will follow!

29.) Create a Client Questionnaire and learn the pros and cons of your service or product so you can compete in the market place. 

30.) Promotional Product is your silent salesman!  Make it something they will keep. 

Follow Purple Diamond on Facebook at www.facebook.com/purplediamondllc for more tips.