Top Ten Frugal Ways To Market Your Small Business



Most, if not all, small businesses are built on a budget. Available funds must be used to buy technology, additional phone lines and marketing materials such as business cards. In this article you will find ten low cost or no cost tips that will help you get your first customer and build your business.

1) Obtain free or low cost business cards at a company such as VistaPrint. Add an explanatory tag line to identify your product or service. While you are running your normal errands drop off a business card at every business you see such as drycleaners, restaurants, gyms, etc.

2) Have a new or rebuilt shopping center opening in your town' Attend the grand opening and chat with the business owners and staff and hand out your free or low cost business cards.

3) Create flyers with your phone number on tear off tabs and place them at the library, grocery store, coffee shops, etc. Carry a few in your car with push pins so you never miss an opportunity.

4) Hold a contest. People love freebies. When you're handing out business cards and designing flyers highlight your contest for a limited time. Anyone who books at least two hours of your time during the contest month is entered into a drawing for a gift basket. Put together an inexpensive gift basket with sample size coffee, a coffee cup, a business book or best selling novel, cookies and crackers. Put the names of the qualifying clients in a hat and have your child draw the winning name. Take a picture of the gift basket and your child drawing the name out of the hat, scan the pictures and put them on your website along with the name of the winner.

5) Write an article that would appeal to your target audience such as small business owners, add a four to five line biography with your e-mail address and web site address. Submit the article to websites and e-zines that cater to your target audience.

6) Create an informative presentation around your topic area and contact your local Chamber of Commerce and offer to speak at a monthly meeting.

7) Create coupons offering a free or discounted product or a free hour of service for every two or three hours of paid service. Give them out to prospective clients and to organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce to use in contests and give aways. Give the recipient an incentive to by your product or use your services by giving the coupon an expiration date.

8) Use the time you spend sitting in traffic to gain new clients. For less than thirty dollars you can purchase a sign for your car from iprint or webdecal.

9) Create a press release announcing the opening of your business or some other milestone event. Send the press release to editors at your local newspaper and to other free area publications.

10) Ask for referrals. Give your business card to your family members, neighbors, hair salon, etc. and ask that they pass them on. Offer an hour of free service or a free product to anyone who refers a client who signs a contract for services and give them a link on your web site.

(c) 2001, Davis Virtual Assistance

Insurance, Financial Services Sales Tactics



If you sell insurance, financial services and the like, consider the following low-cost marketing strategies to help grow your small business.

It's important to first acknowledge some of the natural barriers to acquiring new clients within the insurance and financial services industries. These include, but are not limited to, customers lacking knowledge about your products and, therefore, lacking the ability to ask questions, and customers afraid of being ripped off. Unfortunately, insurance and financial salespeople often carry the same stigma as used car salespeople. And I'm certain there are some great and honest used car dealers around. It's important to recognize this stigma so you can proactively address it in your marketing plan. Ultimately, to grow your business within the insurance and financial services industries you must strive to build an incredible reputation, built on a platform of reliability, honesty and product knowledge. I also encourage you to be very straightforward about your pricing and how you make your money. The fact is, your customer wants to know. Surprise them, and tell them upfront.

Here are some marketing strategies I suggest you try.

-- First, try teaming up with complementary professionals, such as estate attorneys, business attorneys, financial planners, etc. You'll receive referral business faster from such businesses for two reasons. One, their customers are currently utilizing services for "future" occurrences. Hence, your prospect is already in the mindset of planning and spending for the future. You now become another product they need to consider for the future. Second, there's an implied trust between an estate attorney and her customers. If an estate attorney referred her customers to you, that customer would be more likely to do business with you, than if he/she had simply seen your print ad in a local newspaper.

-- Launch a publicity campaign
For example, consider submitting a story idea to your local media about, "The Fallacies of Long-term Care Insurance. Who Needs It' What is it' Insider Secrets to Buying the Most Comprehensive Plan." I can't stress this next point enough; you must be objective when interviewing for such a story. When being interviewed by the media, it's not a chance to "sell" yourself; rather, it's an opportunity to express your knowledge and expertise, and help readers use your knowledge to their benefit. If they like what you have to say, they'll contact you.

-- Consider facilitating a bimonthly workshop(s) at your local library or community center called, "The Insider's Point of View to Long-term Care Insurance. Who Needs It, Who Doesn't'" Or, "Age & Long-term Care Insurance, When's The Right Time'" The workshop-tactic is becoming slightly overused. However, I think it's still a very powerful marketing tool. Plus, it's affordable. You simply need to be more imaginative with your topics and headlines.

-- Try creating a "Long-term Care Insurance Top 10," fact sheet. It should include detailed content about the ins and outs of selecting long-term care insurance, i.e., why, why not' Who qualifies and what are the estimated costs' Distribute your fact sheet to prospects, the press and various public bulletins, such as the library, town hall, Post Office, colleges, doctor and attorney offices, etc. When you're selecting bulletin boards, stick to professional looking boards, rather than just catch-alls. The latter will reduce your professionalism. Some bulletin boards give off the impression, "What would she know; she's advertising on a bulletin board." On the fact sheet, you're not selling yourself; instead, you're selling the benefits/solutions of long-term care insurance with your bio at the bottom. If you've done a comprehensive and professional job, readers will contact you.

-- Partner with a local bank. The idea is to get yourself noted as a "pre-certified insurance expert for XYZ bank." Approach the bank VP and recommend an informal partnership whereby you're available for complimentary onsite consultation for bank customers. Moreover, there's a tremendous amount of implied reliability and credibility when associating your business with a bank. The great thing about banks is that they usually distribute large monthly customer mailings. Ideally you'll want to piggyback on the bank's mailing by having your sales flyer included. These flyers are usually called, "bill stuffers." Don't forget banks also distribute calendars, year-end statements, etc. Try to get noted in all of their communications. Of course, under the umbrella that you're a partner with the bank.

-- A bank north of Boston lets their small business customers display sales materials for a week in their lobby. Approach your bank where you have your business account and ask for the same.

-- Try partnering with hospitals. They're well known for sponsoring workshops. They also distribute a weekly/monthly newsletter. My local hospital actually distributes their calendar of events in my local newspaper. By partnering with hospitals and similar organizations, your prospect-reach compounds tremendously, while you spend zero!

-- Consider joining your local chapter of Business Network International, bni. Of course, like any organization, it's only as effective as your networking abilities and how well the members of that particular chapter work together. Always attend at least two meetings before joining. And watch out! Associations' memberships are down across the board due to the sluggish economy. There's definitely some hard selling going on. Take your time when deciding what organization is best for you. Don't be misled into joining anything.

-- Align yourself with a reputable online insurance media outlet. Ideally you want to become a regularly featured columnist, or perhaps act as a moderator for an upcoming online seminar, etc. This does several things for you. One, usually anything Internet-related is archived. So if a person is shopping around for insurance or financial products and you've partnered with a reputable and high search engine ranking online media outlet, there's a good chance your Web site will reflect high in search engine rankings. Two, if you're a regularly featured columnist, you immediately acquire more credibility than your competitors. Readers are more likely to reach out to you for product solutions.

-- Don't forget about organizations you already belong to. Are you taking advantage of their Web site resources, i.e., linking your Web site, being included in their membership directory, etc.' What's more, do a quick search on google for free directories. Try, [“your expertise” insurance directories], or [financial sales representatives directories.]

-- The key marketing strategy to keep in mind for any salesperson is that you must circulate, "be seen." It's the most perpetuating sales lead program you can foster.

-- Finally, as you're working hard to generate all these new leads, make sure you have a follow-up plan in place. The fastest and most affordable follow-up method is to ask prospects if they want to receive your free monthly ezine.

Article Tags: Insurance, Financial Services, Long-term Care Insurance, Insurance, Financial, Financial Services, Long-term Care, Care Insurance

Car Stickers Come In Different Designs

Another most riveting printing product, car sticker, is widely used for product marketing and business identity development throughout the world. They are elegant and graceful printing products beyond your imagination. The designs of car sticker are typically created by exceptionally talented and skilled graphic designers of thoroughly professional and dedicated online printing companies. Talking about custom sticker prints are uniquely printed via Full color CMYK /PMS (Pantone Matching System) Printing Process. Company is bound to provide you full color sticker printing globally.

One thing is sure that car stickers provide plenteous advantages to both small businesses and large businesses on the spot involving increased prompt marketing, business identity development, improved business performance and efficacy, and increased return on investment. That is why they are extremely helpful and useful for many organizations involving banks, media hypes, fashion industry, nonprofit organization and so on. Company offers custom car stickers printing to its valued customers worldwide in a thoroughly professional manner.

More importantly, car stickers come in different designs to really fulfill your corporate needs and desires efficiently. First they come in such a way from where you could easily enhance your business identity. Secondly vehicle window decals help you catch the attention of the targeted customers on the spot. Importantly their designs give you plenteous cultural meanings and expressions such as love, peace, social harmony & integrity, worship, veneration, agitation and demonstration. Online sticker printing company offers custom size car sticker printing to its valued customers all around the globe.

On the other hand, the beautiful car sticker printing designs and prints help you promote your fundraising campaigns worldwide in a thoroughly professional manner. Next they would lend you a hand when it comes to product marketing. Another important use of these stunning looking car window stickers printing designs is that they would help you promote your music and fashion campaigns worldwide professionally. Company presents eye catching car sticker printing designs to its trendy customers internationally.

Then car window decals can be professionally used to promote your sports activities worldwide. Next they can be broadly used to boost up your fashion campaigns globally. When it comes to customization, you don’t have to be worried about it by any means. Company offers plenteous packages to its valued customers involving free unlimited design revisions, and free lamination, as well as free shipment. Further it offers many other printing products and services to its respected customers worldwide including folder printing, banner printing, car bumper sticker, poster printing, carbonless form printing, cd jacket printing, label printing and many more.

Last but not least, car stickers are extensively used for comical purposes. This way company offers cheap funny car stickers printing to its loving buyers all over the world. Also one doesn’t have to be worried about price tag at all. Moreover, it makes available full color brochure printing to its valued customers with cheap flyer printing including custom packages boxes printing.  So if you need any assistance, please feel free to contact us! We will provide you the best car sticker printing worldwide in a thoroughly professional and dedicated manner.

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Or what about for the skin all over your body

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