Here comes the new year! And, of course, it is a great time to plan for the coming 12 months and figure out how to market your small business. If you happen to be one of those small businesses that does not have a lot of money for marketing, here are a few ideas for you to consider in 2013:
- Set aside a small budget for pay-per-click (PPC) advertising each month if you can. This is especially critical if you have an online store, but it can be a great way to drive traffic to any website. You don't have to spend a lot of money, even $50, $75 or $100 a month will create results. You can buy search ads on Google, Bing/Yahoo and other sites, as well as place ads on Facebook. Twitter is planning to introduce this service soon, too.
- Use social media regularly. Post every day if you can to keep your name "top of mind" among customers. Make sure you invite your customers to "like" you on Facebook and "follow" you on Twitter. Google+ is another growing social media site where people can share information about your business. Set up Foursquare and encourage people to check in at your location, if you have a retail business.
- Use press releases to share news about your company. Local newspapers, radio stations and TV stations are hungry for local news. Just be sure it IS news - a new service you provide, a new location you have opened, etc. Write a brief news release and send it out to the editors of your local media. It is OK to follow up if you like, but don't make repeated calls or e-mail contacts.
- Think about direct mail. This tactic is still effective even in this digital age. You can target individual neighborhoods using either the US Postal Service or a mail house. It can be an inexpensive way to get your name in front of potential customers, but make sure you have a compelling piece that will grab attention.
- Take advantage of your local Chamber of Commerce events and other networking opportunities. After hours events, expos and luncheons can all be excellent opportunities to tell others about your business and generate referrals.
Making sure you have a plan for your marketing is also very important. I have developed a guide that helps small businesses create a marketing plan that is available at no charge. Just E-mail your request for "Marketing Plan Guide" to Kim@DeppeCommunications.com
