Below are five simple principles I pass on to my clients when they are starting up a business or looking to grow their business. Simple ideas that work perfectly for small businesses and soloists on a budget. Marketing does not have to be rocket science and does not have to be expensive to work successfully for you!
1. Create alliances within your circle of influence
Amongst the peers you trust, foster relationships to refer and receive referrals. Work together on joint ventures to expand your opportunities. Create newsletters together to double, treble, quadruple your database of potential clients. Share advertising opportunities together, expo stands etc if you have like minded products suitable for clients in the same buying cycle.
2. Network to grow your business
Don’t shy away from networking opportunities, make the effort to represent your business and watch the synchronous doors open. Be passionate about your business and sum it up very briefly with a hook of “what it is in for the listener”. Rather than say you are a web designer, say “I create generating income websites that work while you sleep”. Far more interesting to the listener and more likely to be a conversation starter.
3. A user friendly website is your best silent salesman
When did you last click through the links on your website? Is your site easy to navigate, is it up to date and is it search engine optimised. What year is noted
at the very bottom of your template? Are your contact details visible on every page? Is there a call to action on every page? Is there a way to collect email
addresses from site visitors respectfully? Can you read your web diagnostics, if not ask your administrator how so that you can take advantage of the
marketing opportunities tracked behind your website.
4. Find ways to thank your clients
The great advantage of small businesses is the personal relationship you develop with your clients. Be unique and think of creative ways to thank your
clients. Small and personal is generally really appreciated, don’t try to compete on dollar terms with big business. For example, invite a client to
attend a seminar, breakfast, information session, networking event with you.
5. Adopt the give not get policy
What can you do for a prospective client or existing client without expecting anything in return? Can you network two clients who will benefit from this
business connection? It costs you nothing to connect people and making introductions that will benefit both their businesses means both parties will be
grateful you thought of them. This is a win-win for everyone.
Author Bio: Sherryn McBride is a freelance marketing consultant and her knowledge is drawn from 25 years managing state branches for national/multinational corporations and consultancies. To learn more about Sherryn and to read more of her articles view her profile.
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