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11/23/2011
Not every marketing campaign has to take weeks and months of planning, coordinating and budgeting. Small campaigns can be super successful too, especially for small businesses.
If you have a little time to experiment, try seeking out a new audience for your products or services. Can you remarket your services slightly to serve a whole new group of consumers? How about creating a new purpose for your product? Test these possibilities, starting with a small targeted group and analyze your results. You may have just found a new way to boost your sales.
Hold a pop-up event. Business owners are usually told that holding a seminar is one of the best ways to position yourself as an expert while also encouraging sales. You don't need to plan a big event to create a marketing opportunity for your business. There are better ways to bring your business to the public, and give you a chance to connect with customers at the same time. Depending on what your business is, you could rent a booth at a local business expo or contact a community agency and offer to give a presentation at their next event. You could also host a customer appreciation event, and invite your customers to bring friends. Similarly, you could help out with a local event, offering your services or product to the benefit of the event and it's attendees, such as part of a presentation or activity.
Look for traditional media coverage opportunities. For example, if your business relates to the current economy or job hunting, offer to talk to a local newspaper about that topic. Perhaps you could interview for a piece on using social media sites to boost job prospects or how to create an impressive online portfolio. Create a press release, and get more public awareness for your business.
Encourage conversations. People want to communicate and make new connections; give them a way to do so. Host Google Plus hangouts around a topic that relates to your business, or help to put together a community forum. Create conversations on your Google Plus or Facebook business page.
Go over your old leads. If people have expressed interest in your product or service in the past, and then ended up not buying, contact them again. Offer a special discount to encourage the sale, or explain a new incentive for them to consider making a purchase.
Have your website redesigned, or add a new feature (a blog, for example), and relaunch it. Create a buzz over the "new" site before it's ready; get the word out to customers and social media followers. Let people know, and get them excited about checking out the changes. This brings people back to your website, and can encourage them to buy.
If you want a steady stream of customers, never stop marketing. Even when you're not putting a lot of effort into finding new business, keeping up with the small things can make a big difference in the success of your company. If you're just starting out, have limited time or budget, or are looking to increase recognition, these ideas can be a great place to start.
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