Nothing happens in business until a sale is made. Marketing is simply about getting new customers and keeping them. If you’re not doing something everyday to market and promote your business, your competitors are. Here are ten easy-to-implement tips to effectively market and grow your business:
Nothing happens in business until a sale is made.
Marketing is simply about getting new customers and keeping them. If you’re not doing something everyday to market and promote your business, your competitors are. Here are ten easy-to-implement tips to effectively market and grow your business:
1. Partner with large email database list owners and offer to cross promote each oher. The list owner will advertise your event, product, or service to their email database and you’ll offer to do the same to your list.
2. Create your own blog which is an online journal with frequently updated posts to entertain and excite existing and potential customers. It’s more personal and immediate then a website and keeps people engaged and hopefully coming back for more. You can even create one for free at www.blogger.com.
3. If you want to increase word-of-mouth fast, do something beyond normal industry expectations. For example, Mr. Lube offers fast and affordable tune-up service to customers right on the spot, without having to leave the car, while offering coffee, cappuccino, and a fresh newspaper.
4. Always ask happy clients for endorsements or testimonials and put them on your website and other marketing collateral. They’re worth their weight in gold. Try to get some recognizable names in your community for additional cachet.
5. Put a special offer or product advertorial on every invoice and statement you send out. Likewise, you can also negotiate a deal with another company to advertise your product or service on all their invoices for a percentage of revenues from placed orders.
6. Make your business cards stand out and be natural keepers. Offer important information on the back such as emergency phone numbers, a map, or special dates to remember. Have a slogan that offers a powerful benefit statement to your prospective customer.
7. Offer special bonus packages with your product or service offering. Get corporate sponsors to give away products as part of the bonus package in exchange for free exposure.
8. Align your business with a cause or charity. Give back to your community. Customers appreciate doing business with companies that are bettering their communities and the environment and being good corporate citizens.
9. Find an angle that makes your work controversial. The banning of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, reviewed as “trashy and vicious,” was a blessing in disguise. Twain made a poster advertising the ban, which significantly increased sales.
10. Post frequently in online message boards/forums relevant to your business or expertise. Include your signature and offer tips and valuable advice. Eventually you will begin gaining word-of-mouth exposure as a leader in your field. Posting messages with your company information also helps to increase your search engine rankings and drive traffic to your site.
[Excerpted from Sharif Khan’s new ebooklet: “101 Ways to Market Your Business,” http://tinyurl.com/m2nsf ].
Sharif Khan (http://www.herosoul.com; sharif@herosoul.com) is a motivational speaker, freelance writer, coach, and author of “Psychology of the Hero Soul,” an inspirational book on awakening the hero within and developing people’s leadership potential. To contact Sharif Khan directly, call: (416) 417-1259.
Sharif Khan
Sharif Khan is a freelance writer, motivational speaker, and author of Psychology of the Hero Soul, an inspirational book on awakening the hero within and developing people’s leadership potential. Based on his ten years research to the field of human development, Khan provides inspirational keynotes and leadership seminars to help people tap into their inner-hero potential for higher success. Sharif Khan is a man with a mission. His vision is to inspire the world and make a positive difference in people’s lives. To help create a global culture of heroes and responsible citizens dedicated to promoting peace and prosperity in the world. For a free, no-obligation quote on your next writing project or to book Khan for a speaking engagement, call 416-417-1259 or email inspire@herosoul.com with your specific requirements. Sharif Khan is also available for author interviews to the media. (For more information on Sharif Khan, you can browse his author overview page or visit his website at: http://www.herosoul.com
Interests and Hobbies:
Sharif Khan is an avid reader and movie buff. Literature, Arts & Entertainment, and Personal Development are his life-blood. Writing is Sharif’s ‘main business,’ purpose, and passion. Currently, he is working on an inspirational novel.
Khan also enjoys writing, speaking, and commenting on topics of business/entrepreneurship, sales and marketing, personal growth, and leadership.
After graduating from York University with a B.A. in Psychology, Sharif Khan decided to pursue his passion with books and writing. Some of Khan’s adventures involved managing a Bestsellers bookstore, serving as Director of The MetroActive Writer’s Club, taking a creative writing course at The Humber School of Writing, launching a book nationwide, and publishing several articles in a number of well-respected national and international magazines and newspapers.
Sharif Khan welcomes questions and personal correspondence. While Sharif does have a busy schedule and is not able to respond to every email or phone call, he does make an effort to reply back. You can reach Khan directly at sharif@herosoul.com or 416-417-1259.
Homepage:
http://www.herosoul.com