Marketing to small business, ideas
Hi,
I am looking to market to the small business sector on a very small budget. I would however, like it to be effective at the same time. Apart from blogging, and using social media(not quite sure how i can make full use of these, some advice perhaps). What other avenues are there?
Answers (13)
I suggest channeling some effort toward SEO. It's free, just time consuming. Many people are using search to find local businesses these days.
You can find some great advice and free tools at http://www.seomoz.org/ and http://www.hubspot.com/.
We've been using SEO, as well as social media, for http://www.blackcatrescue.com and the results have been great, especially for long tail regional terms
Hope this helps.
Links:
Well done email marketing is an extremely efficient way to reach an audience. The difficulty is finding email addresses. You can buy them or you can develop them yourself.
SEO success depends on whether or not people are looking for your product or service. If no one is searching for blue widgets you'll have to find another way to get them to your site.
Good luck.
If your target is local or regional, put aside some $$ for a focused direct mail shot using post cards, and a limited time telemktg calling cycle to qualify. Really! If you are selling b2b or if your target is broader, then stick with SEO. Or, find out what other companies are pitching the same buyers and explore a coop program -- that will trim costs and keep your name in league with other fine brands.
Hi Zubair,
I think samantha got it right
your effort towards SEO will definately give result
Good Luck
Links:
Michael K
President at VINOVIO | Wine Solutions
Best Answers in: Starting Up (1), Web Development (1)
Website is the single most cost-effective way.
Michael Kennedy
michael@fusionsquared.com
Links:
Danish B
Account Manager - Search
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (3), Search Marketing (2), Web Development (1)
use local business ads to target the small business in specific areas, you could use Google business ads, yell, touch local and many more
Quinnie W
Internet Marketing Expert. Global Experience & Success.
Best Answers in: Search Marketing (1)
1. Register with local search/maps on Yahoo, Google, etc.
2. You can work with list brokers and obtain an email marketing list PLUS phone numbers. Send emails - then follow-up with calls (so it's not entire "cold" calls). You need to define your list selection criteria (be specific) and you don't need to start with a very large list. Even just a few thousand emails WITH phone numbers, if the list is targeted, you may get good results.
3. Outside of emails, you can also consider sending letters - and follow-up with calls. You do NOT need fancy letters/direct mail packages. Send simple letters that show your value.
4. Look for people who might be interested in your products on Linked-In!! Search by industry/job title. Try to get introduced to those people!
Anthony R
Owner, Samurai Virtual Tours. Marketing your business and location using extraordinary virtual tours and more!
Consider looking into local chambers of commerce. I did a quick search on Google for chambers near Twickenham and will list some of the sites below.
Take advantage of meetings and events they sponsor to meet the owners and employees of the local businesses. Build relationships, get to know them, refer others when you can, offer any advice or expertise you can and work on marketing your business.
Don't forget to build relationships. Genuinely be interested in others and look to help where you can. This type of marketing might be a good solution for someone on a tight budget but remember it will take an investment of time.
Links:
I think the way Quinnie Wong proposes can be rather effective, but i would also recommend you to consolidate all the information about each customer/potential customer and create your CRM system. It will help you to launch some loyalty program for your customers in future.
Gianluigi C
Web Marketing Strategist ★ Consultant @ Traffic4u
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Hi Zubair,
Invest in SEO and SEA.
SEA isn't per se cheap, but if you run it cost-effective and on ROI/CPO objectives, you can even think of a non-budget as long as objectives are being reached.
Eric M
Interactive Marketing Professional
Best Answers in: Direct Marketing (4), Lead Generation (1)
Zubair,
As an agency focusing in this area, I come across your predicament a lot. SEO, SEM, general local advertising (i.e. val pak, local shoppers etc)are lead generators (some better than others).
On a limited budget you should be seeking the highest ROI for your dollars. Therefore, focus on existing customers. They will bring the most amount of money into your operation AND very satisfied ones can lead you to new ones (word of mouth). Some things you can do:
*Develop an opt-in list of prospects and customers. Send them perodic announcements of new services, improvements in existing services etc. Email communication to existing people who know you is highly effective.
*When I send out emails, I always place a link at the bottom of each email "tell a friend". This facilitates the person I know forwarding the entire email to someone they know who might be interested in my services. I pick up two different new leads in this manner.
Using your email list, develop a newsletter of pertinent information you think your customers and prospects might need to know. It is a back door approach to sales.
Buy some promotional products to hand out when you visit a customer or prospect. Promotion is important. But you also have to remember to keep your company in your customer's and prospect's mind long after the sale. A particularly good one is a video messaging pen. You can display up to 6 different messages through a window in the barrel in addition to ha space on the barrel to imprint your company information. When you press the top of the barrel, the messages appearing through the window rotate. It is a constant reminder of you and your servcies. Pens are universally used, are reasonably prices.
In short, with limited resources, think customers first.
Boris M
Email Marketing Coach, YourEzineCoach.com
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (6), Direct Marketing (2), Business Development (1), Organizational Development (1), E-Commerce (1)
From your LI profile it seems like you don't have a web site. If that's the case, then that should be your #1 priority. Create one based on self-hosted WordPress - it's a blog + web site + ideal for Search Engine Optimization. Get a good WP template at link #1
Start blogging about your products on a daily basis - this can be stories, how-tos, etc. Keep the comments open for community input.
Then start collecting email addresses on line and (if you have) your retail shop. Send weekly email promos to your list. You can offer subscribers a discount or free product which they need to pick up at the store.
All of this may cost you about $100 per year for hosting and Email Service Provider fees. I recommend MadMimi (link #2) as the most elegant and simplest-to-use Email Service. You can start using the service for free, until your list goes over 100 contacts.
Email still offers the highest rate of return on investment ($55 per dollar in the US, check with your DMA-UK for local figures).
I also recommend regular postcards, but with a twist - automated and personalized on-line. I use postcards for those clients who prefer not to receive emails, or are not online, such as the elderly. See link #3.
Hope this helps. If you have any questions about email marketing, I offer a free consultation over the phone (1-905-844-4247 Mon-Fri 10-4 EST).
Boris Mahovac - Email Marketing Consultant
http://YourEzineCoach.com
Links:
Robert L
>>> President, Direct Impact Marketing Inc. & Publisher, LeadGenTools.com
Best Answers in: Lead Generation (2), Direct Marketing (1), Business Development (1), Search Marketing (1)
Hi Zubair,
I am going to build on Eric Mohr's comments by suggesting that you start with the customer first but for a different reason: in order to determine how to create your marketing plan.
A lot of the suggestions here assume that your customers are online. Although most are, what if Oz Direct targets mostly older folks? Will blogs appeal to someone who is more comfortable with traditional, offline media?
Simply put, once you decide who you want as your customer, then you can decide what to say (message, offer) and how you want to say it (media).
If it makes sense to conduct marketing online, you will find that these tools are very budget friendly. We recently surveyed B2B marketers regarding their preferred online lead generation tools and found that most of these tools are either free or almost free (see link below).
To agree with many of my fellow LinkedIn'ers, SEO and email rank very high for B2B marketers for demand generation.
