For Small - Medium Size Business Owners, what is the #1 Marketing tool they should be using to build their brand
As a consulting firm focusing on multiple industries it is always helpful to hear from varying demographics
Good Answers (3)
Peter A
Head of Group Business Systems
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Word of Mouth is the single best method for any business, and would be particulary effective for SME.s
you should cultivate any form of endorsed marketing; endorsed letters, recommendations, testimonials, referals etc.
encourage your happy customers to recommend you to others with issues that you have proven you can address.
these endorsements should take the position of value created and thus address the benefits to the prospective customer AND not features of your offer.
PS. the other major way to market the business is to maintain the relationship with every single customer you get. ( cheaper to keep them than to find them ) - so stay in touch, offer free value and remind them your ready to help when asked. newsletters, did you know mailings, thankyous but keep the communication channel open - and ongoing until further notice.
Scott C
Teaching others how to leverage LinkedIn for leads, sales & partnerships.
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Networking and building strategic relationships. Determine what other businesses in your area have similar prospects/clients as you, but aren't competitors. Develop referral relationships with these strategic partners.
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Building a customer list and continue mining the list. I have seen some other answers for this question - networking, direct marketing, etc. - all play an important part in building and maintaining your customer list.
Rule 1 - Create list
Rule 2 - Market to list
Rule 3 - Continue marketing to people who respond - put them into special catagory
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More Answers (15)
Louis R
louis(at)r2computing.com; Business Technology Coach, Author of NearlyFreeIT.com
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Writing articles & blogging get my votes. I am no expert on the subject of marketing, by the way, so this is defintely an uninformed opinion.
James P
Professional coffee drinker, I connect business problems with people that can help take them away, can I help you?
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Networking - go and talk to people, new and old, ask for references to the friends and network of your client contact, talk to people at events, on trains anywhere! You will be surprised how quickly you can build emotional debt and leverage this into intelligence and work.
James
The best way is to build customer loyalty, promote word-of-mouth, and empower your evangelists with the right tools to tell others about you.
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nick@nicholaslongo.com
Why the US Mail of Course! Small Businesses that focus on residential clients should use direct mail marketing to focus on building their brand with those consumers most likely to do business with them. In a typical retail business that is about a 3-5 mile radius. These campaigns are easy to target, and produce measurable results so the advertising will pay for itself if done correctly and consistently. They should also be using direct mail to "touch" their current client base and mine that base for additional revenue opportunities. Used properly, Direct Marketing can be one of the most cost effective powerful tools that a small to medium sized business can use to increase awareness. Additionally, sending something in the mail GUARANTEES a recipient. Everyone has a physical mailbox. I
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Laurie G also suggests these experts on this topic:
The Internet is by far the #1 marketing tool to find, get and customers. Search engine marketing should be used to get in front of potential clients that are actively researching companies that can fill their needs. Having a strategically designed website will increase the likelihood that visitors will convert into customers. And permission based email marketing should be used for loyalty and retention purposes.
As far as I am concerned, the best way for SMEs to build a brand would be definitively the one who will cost the less and give most impact: internet.
The first idea would be to have an effective web site, with a strong keyword web. Tipping for exemple ''kite surf'' and having his web site in the top 3 in google is a long way but one just need to know the people, IT developpers able to ''fix'' it.
The second idea, of course is networking through web 2.0 web sites .
This is just the number one marketing tool. Other tools are also efficient but have to be adapted providing the product or service your cmopany provide.
Kind regards,
Mark T
Director, Eriskay Associates
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Hi Michael,
This is a great question which has attracted some interesting answers.
My own view is that everything good that happens in business comes from a meaningful relationship. CEOs should therefore put their time into these, not in a perfunctory 'press the flesh' spree but by taking time with key people. The most successful people I know will always find time for me and other relationships they value - consequently, my commitment to them is 100% - the same goes for their other suppliers and service providers.
Best of luck with your business, Michael.
Best wishes,
Mark.
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Use the techniques described in Guerrilla Marketing - tools specificially tailored to SME.
Agreed, studies show publishing articles is the number one way to build reputation and marketshare followed by seminars.
Hi Michael,
I work for EmailAppenders. Would like suggest you to do email marketing because that is the best way where you can build brand for small - medium size business owners. We can help you in building brand by doing email campaigns where you can tracking leads, clicks, reviews etc.
Please feel free to email me or call me for more information.
Best Regards.
Suzan Smith
Online Marketing Manager
+1-800-718-2757
EmailAppenders
Michael,
I think having well organized marketing plan w/ cohesive elements and professional looking marketing materials (from logo development, to brochures, business cards to your web page) makes such a difference.
Businesses have succeeded or failed simply by how well they capture the attention of their "audience" well before standing or falling on the merit of their particular product. I cannot say enough about a well thought out multi dimensional marketing efforts- direct mail with professional looking printed materials and well thought out, cohesive pieces. And showing yourself to be a serious player in your specific field.
Olga K
Research Professional, Translator, Citizen of the World
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Internet
Empower their people to solve problems for customers, distributors, even vendors. Coach them in the best ways to deal with people who are happy, unhappy, or angry. -- Ken
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In my experience as a marketing consultant for SMB's I would summarize as it follows:
1.- Word of mouth
2.- Web Presence
3.- Direct Mail
4.- Internet Marketing (blogging, social networking, press releases)
Pierre D
Founder, Zimana / Marketing ● Finance ● Website Analytics ● Entrepreneurship
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Hi Michael,
To quote an IBM ad "Talking creates customers, Doing creates millions of them"
Business should focus on serving the customers with intensity and great offerings, and the word of mouth will serve as the best marketing possible. How that word of mouth comes about can be a subject of debate, but at certain point it does not matter as long as it keeps the business on the minds of future customers.
Hope this adds to the dialogue.
Cheers,
P
