1. Focus your marketing
This means knowing your audience or customer base and directing your messaging to their interests and needs. It also means using marketing tactics that can be tracked and monitored to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. Advertising needs to have a call to action to get customers to contact you. Offer prospective clients a free sample, consultation, gift or discount for trying your products or services. Be sure to follow up with each potential customer. The personal attention is what people love and makes the difference. Think Nordstrom!
2. Stay in contact with your current customers
Collect email addresses and use Constant Contact as a inexpensive way to communicate with your customers. Keep in mind that it costs more to get a new customer than to keep an existing one. Reward your existing customers with incentives. Keep the lines of communication open and build the strength of that relationship. Bring back old customers with a welcome back offering or gift. Build the relationship so they will go back to doing business with you.
3. Incentivize customers to send you more business
Word-of-mouth and referrals are extremely effective and cost efficient. Offer your current clients a gift or reward for sending business your way. Customer testimonials are extremely effective in gaining new business.
4. Look for free or inexpensive advertising and promotions
Barter or trade-out for services with companies that can help promote your business. Use free and inexpensive online listings like Yelp, Kudzu, Local Yahoo, Local Google, to name a few. Facebook is another way to let your network know about specials, sales, new offerings and new products. It's time to be creative and think outside of the box.
5. Use the Internet
Use your website to it's fullest potential. Make sure your URL is on everything that gets distributed to the world at large (ads, company vehicles, business cards, fliers, billboards or anywhere you promote your company). Make sure to offer specials, list events and the latest information about your business on your site. Your website needs to look professional as it's often the first impression. Over 60% of Americans now use the Internet. If your business doesn't have a website, then you are falling behind on the game. The Internet is here to stay and it will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years. Don't be left behind!
Please contact me if you need assistance with putting together effective marketing strategies and tactics that address the tips listed above. It's what I love to do!
(619) 823-2037 / gingerjhill@gmail.com
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