3 Things You Can Do To Market Your Business Today

By Kim Deppe

Marketing does not have to involve a lot of money, time and effort. In fact, just about everyone knows that word-of-mouth advertising is the best kind. So today, I'm offering suggestions for 3 things you can do to market your business that cost little or nothing, but will help build your brand and your reputation.

1. Say Thank You. Seems simple, right? But do you really stop and thank your customers for choosing you? Instead of just saying "thank you" to everyone today, take an extra moment and really thank them. Say "I really appreciate you choosing us to do business with. I enjoy helping you and I hope you will come back again soon. Please let your friends and family know about us, too."

2. Make a Good First Impression. If you have a retail location, spend time walking through it and around it. Pick up trash, wipe fingerprints off the door, remove dead plants from the parking lot, make sure the shelves are tidy. Check the restrooms - often a place that gets forgotten but where your customers will make real judgments about your dedication to the business. Speak to people when they come in the door or call on the phone and make an effort to be friendly, upbeat and pleasant. Saying "hello, it's nice to see you today" is a lot better than "hi there."

3. Do Something Extra. Go above and beyond today and do something unexpected for your customers. Offer them coffee or cookies, put chocolates on your reception desk, give out coupons for their next visit or hand out trinkets to children who come in with their parents. Customers remember the extra special touches they experience and it will set you apart from your competition.

There you have it - 3 things you can do today to market your business without spending a fortune or taking a lot of time. Here's hoping you have a prosperous day! And, if you want more marketing ideas, please visit my website at www.DeppeCommunications.com.

Kim Deppe is President of Deppe Communications, an outsource marketing firm located in the Jacksonville, FL area. Deppe Communications provides marketing consulting, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, public relations and advertising services to small and medium size businesses across the U.S. With over 25 years corporate executive marketing experience, Kim Deppe brings a unique combination of strategic marketing experience and online marketing know-how to her clients. For more information, visit www.DeppeCommunications.com, call 904.524.0170 or E-mail Kim@DeppeCommunications.com.

Small Business Marketing Ideas for 2013

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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