What Is Your Favorite Small Business Marketing Idea?_Alyssa Gregory
It may take a little creativity to uncover new small business marketing ideas, and hearing what other business owners do in their businesses is a great way to spark your own creativity. We already listed 101 small business marketing ideas, but now we want to hear from you. What is your favorite small business marketing idea?
Mail or package inserts
Develop an insert about your product or service to be included with vendor packages or bank statements for a relatively cheap way to market to customers who are proven buyers.
—Guest Jason
Host an event in a small conference room with WIFI. Charge $25 for a two-hour session, and invite everyone to bring their laptops and share social media marketing ideas. Focus on giving them something they can apply to their business that is free on the Web such as Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin. You have created a win/win situation: They got their money's worth and you promoted your business and made a profit by helping someone else succeed. - Sherri Henley
—sherrihenley
Study Competing Business' Complaints
Knowing what to market is important. Knowing what has failed to work for your competition is also important. Take time to read any public complaints you can find about your competition. Take complaints with a grain of sale but look for trends in what might be valid customer concerns. Then market to address those concerns. For example, if your competition does not return calls or charges for returns, one up them and advertise services that address common consumer problems.
—Guest Lahle Wolfe
Partner with Other Businesses to Win BIG
My favorite marketing idea for small business owners begins by targeting your ideal customer. Once you have that particular customer in your sights - take a look at other types of business who also target that particular customer and find a way to work together so you both win. For example, a spa owner may look in his parking lot and see his customers are driving late model BMWs. That spa owner can then partner with the BMW dealership to create a win/win campaign where the dealership offers a free spa treatment with a test drive. The auto dealership wins because the free spa treatment will bring in previous customers to test drive the latest cars - and the spa owner gets a chance to introduce his business to the car dealership's customers.
—Guest Beyond Niche Marketing
Contacts, Contacts, Contacts
The best way to market a local business is to make contact with many, many people. Some marketing experts say you should make 3,000 contacts (with business cards!) before you start your business. The best way to get customers is word of mouth, and the only way to get word of mouth referrals is to have the customers to refer. A good professional-looking business card is essential, too, particularly for personal service businesses.
—Guest Jean
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Reference :
- http://sbinformation.about.com/u/ua/marketingsales/share-your-small-business-marketing-idea.htm?nl=1
