Marketing a small business is not that easy and competing against the larger businesses to have a share of your niche can be a struggle due to lack of funding, staffing and the constant changing face of marketing. But however marketing changing it attire constantly in our fast pace society one may have forgotten the basic but very effective marketing strategy use for century. Community involvement, Community networking, A little kindness goes a long way.
Send handwritten letters with a photo.
It may sound a bit mad? time consuming and you might be worry of mistake You might be right, but you be wrong not to try this technique. Most small businesses are content to typewritten letter, expensive, high-gloss marketing mailings.
Maybe you can try a different approach. Go on a note-writing spree, find a relevant message to share with your community, and include a photo of your family, your small business location, your team or you at work. Wanna see at work
And don’t forget to smile!
Sponsor your local kid school event.
What do kids love? Bouncing castles, balloons, sweet, games and cake.
What do parents love? Taking their kids to the aforementioned events for free.
What are you waiting for? Attend your local kids school cake sale, bring your own cake, mix with the parents, school staff, give free stuff to the school such donation of old toys or clothes.
Host a community party.
Why is it that residential neighbourhoods get to have all the fun? Get your small business in party mode. You can start a party wherever you are. Invite other local businesses, rent a barbecue , prepare some free soft drinks, and have some fun!
If you’re lucky, you might even get some news coverage!
Give stuff away.
You like going to MC Donald and Costa coffee not just for the food or the coffee but also for the free WiFi they offer either you a customers or not you can just log into there WiFi for free. but while you there you using their internet connection for free you might develop a thirst and hunger so you opt-in and purchase coffee and cake or burger fries and drink.
If this giveaway strategy weren’t working, they would have stopped a long time ago. But each of these for-profit businesses are still thriving, and still giving away something of value for free to anyone is a profit maker.
Try this.
Just give stuff away at farmer’s markets, trade shows, community events, on your website or your storefront.
Community involvement
Attend job fair, local political events, what about your local community? Are there ways to be involved in clubs, civic organisations, small local government positions, or the like?
Your personal brand matters just as much as — if not more than — your business brand. By expanding your personal role in the community, you can help grow your business.
Find speaking engagements.
Another connective point between your personal brand and your business brand is public speaking.
If public speaking simply isn’t your thing, you can skip to the next section. If I caught your attention, then here are my tips:
Start by speaking at community colleges. Many small schools are eager to hear from local business people, especially if your skill set and experience is relevant to a class.
Submit pitches. Submit a speaking pitch for local events and conferences.
Become a sponsor for local conferences. Often, the reward for your sponsorship is a brief speaking session about your business.
Get involved in community groups and clubs. Most organisations are not posting speaking opportunities online. You have to be connected to find the opportunities.
Just ask. Find a well-connected person, and ask them about speaking opportunities. And if you don’t know any well-connected people, your local library may be a suitable starting place.
Get involved in a community cause.
Pick one worthy cause to get excited about, and go do it. Your business can become the go-to champion for cleaning up the Thames, donating blood, combating homelessness offer your service at the food bank, protecting stray or animals, recycling old computers, or building more green spaces.
When a business develops a passion for the community, it fosters a sense of goodwill and respect.
Place your business logo and contact information on your vehicle.
You might be surprised at the kind of visibility you’ll get when you put your phone number on your vehicle. People might be curious and give you a call. Drivers might be bored and give you a call (using their hands-free device, of course). In serendipitous moments, someone who needs your product or service will see your information and use it and It can’t hurt to try. Girlfridayz can create magnets or decals for just a few pound. In no time, you’ll be driving along with major marketing mojo.
Offer free consultations.
There are people in your community who want your advice. Give it to them for free.
Solid advice is hard to come by, especially if it is offered at no cost. Take the knowledge or experience that you’ve gained, and give it to those who need it.
No obligation, no cost, and no-sales-pitch consulting sessions could be the best thing that ever happened to your business.
Some businesses offer workshops as a form of consultation. Instead of one-on-one sessions, they provide a free talk in their area of expertise — office wellness, children’s nutrition, investment strategies, home-improvement ideas, etc. It doesn’t hurt to offer free coffee and biscuits.
Host a meetup.
Local meetups are growing in popularity. Many of us are discovering that Facebook is a weak substitute for real face-to-face conversations.
Try hosting a meetup in your community. Select a relevant topic, pick a pleasant forum, and spread the word. It’s a simple and straightforward way to generate social buzz and make your business a community connector.
Conclusion
Remember, your marketing doesn’t start with tactics. Marketing, regardless of its form, starts with a deep understanding of two things: 1) your business goals, and 2) your target customer.
Once you have these two things firmly in mind, it’s time to unleash the marketing beast and lap up all leads you can to convert into paying customers.
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