Amcdrrindia

Many small business owners marketing is like a trip to the dentist – something you just have to do every six months or less.

But when the market is continuous and targeted rather than occasional and shotgun, the easier companies. If prospects have a positive view of their products and reputation before you call or before you start shopping.

The breaking news story that follows is that the current marketing is not tied to a price tag. It Is defined only by putting the message right in front of the right person at the right time.

Here are 10 ideas to make – on the cheap.

1. Take steps to make customers feel special. Customers respond to being recognized, especially in end point for the lowest price ever. “Even with a Web-based business, good customer

service is possible, “says Denise McMillan, co-owner of Plush Creations (www.plushcreations.com), an online retailer of travel bags handmade. McMillan encloses a small smell of roses in each bag of jewels and underwear she sells and sends a handwritten thank-you. “The envelope and pennies into account the costs, but adds something special to buy,” he says.

2. Make Business Cards
perspectives to maintain. Most cards are released a few hours after a meeting. Instead of tossing the card, create a reality that recipients to use – for example, a handsome book with your contact information and title on each page. “The laptop card refers almost daily, kept for 30 days or so and has a high memory factor,” says Elliott Black, a marketing consultant in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in small businesses.

3. Stop the customer balance. If this idea makes you mourn, to think more. You’re falling into the fallacy of increasing sales rather than increase profits. If you stop marketing to unprofitable customers, you have more time and resources for customers who actually grow your business. “More than likely, 20% of its customer base is contributing 150% to 200% of the total annual profit (TAP), 70% is the breakeven point, and 10% is costing 50% to 100% TAP, “says

Atlanta marketing consultant Michael King. Take a close look at performance data and customer services and marketing premium customers. (Microsoft Outlook 2010 with Business Contact Manager can help you analyze customer histories.)

4. Develop a mailing list and send letters of age. Most businesses have harnessed the power of e-newsletters – and must surely be sending one, too. It is very profitable. Just make sure the letter delivers something customers want to read, if an analysis of recent developments in their field, offering bonuses or a sweetener personalized for the recipient (a discount on your next purchase of anything from the last purchase for example). “This shipment has to be of value to those who read, reflecting the value of what they offer,” says Leslie Ungar, an executive coach

Akron, Ohio. “Remember that the best way to sell is to tell.” The process has been simplified by creating a letter template and envelope or label mailing list of customers in Microsoft Office Word in Office 2010 that can be printed. The mailing list can be easily created in Excel and then import into Word.

5. Increase your profile at trade shows and conferences. You can quickly create signage, glossy postcards with your contact information, news inserts or an event mini Web site – all with Microsoft Office Publisher. Check out its versatile features.

6. Combine business with pleasure – and charity. Spearhead an event, party or conference for a cause you care about. That puts you in position to meet new people, and show their leadership skills in small businesses. “I can be the host of the annual baseball game where you take hundreds of clients to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field,” says Kate Koziol, who owns a public relations agency in Chicago. “Last year, I took 300 people and raised $ 10,000 for a local children’s hospital. Few people download a game and an opportunity to network clients. That allows me to reconnect with current clients and impress potential clients. ”

7. Create a destination. Bookstore chain Barnes & Noble has its coffee shops. Furniture giant IKEA offers child care and dining. Why? For customers who gravitate to the stores to enjoy an experience to hang out for awhile. Sunday morning at Barnes & Noble becomes a pleasant weekend routine, rather than a trade mission. Steal this idea. This advice is not limited to offline destinations, either. The use of pay per click advertising you can cheaply drive traffic to a news once or special offers, said Jay Lipe, a marketing consulting firm based in Minneapolis small. Lipe create a website for games of James (www.gamesbyjames.biz), a game store, and quickly attracted customers via pay-per-click ads. “The effect was the night,” says Lipe. “Traditionally in the marketing world, it takes weeks or even months to generate acceptable awareness and traffic. Here we saw traffic spike overnight. ”

8. Become an online expert. This is the “free sample” of their turnover. Research active e-mail discussion lists and online bulletin boards that are relevant to your business and the public. Join several and start posting expert advice to solve problems or answer questions. You may have to continue for some time. However, the rewards come back in paying clients and referrals. “The discussion mailing lists have been my biggest source of customers for the past eight years,” says Shel Horowitz, marketing consultant for small businesses based in Northampton, Massachusetts

9. Court local media. Editorials convey more credibility with potential customers that paid advertising does. For coverage of local media, either from the town newspaper, radio stations or television, or magazines, you need a fresh and timely story. Usually, it is worth hiring an experienced publicist to position the stories, the aim of representative of the appropriate and write and send press releases. Usually you can work on a short-term contingency.

10. Finally, do not let customers simply disappear. Make an effort to stagger inches costs much less to keep an unhappy customer or inactive to buy a new one. If you have not heard of one customer at a time, send an e-mail (you can automate this process), asking if everything is okay. For a client who suffered a bad experience, pick up the phone, the recognition of the inconvenience and ask if there is anything you can do. A discount does not hurt either. Being nice to customers is the most intelligent low-cost marketing you can do.