5 Small Business Marketing Tips

I found a great article on Nielsen Business Media’s Professional Network Small Business Center today by Mark Colier, President of CGSM - a privately held direct marketing organization in Wilton, Connecticut (not far from my alma mater, Fairfield University).  

Mark’s article provides five tips for small businesses to help them develop marketing campaigns despite potentially small budgets.  He provides some simple ideas that any small business owner can implement to generate awareness of their business and brand as well as to drive sales. 

Following are Mark’s five small business marketing tips:

1. Build a ‘New Movers’ file: Newcomers to your area may need your service but don’t know where to find it yet.  Make it easy for them, and tell them who you are, where you are and how you can help them.
2. Use a compelling offer to invite a prospect: Don’t just tell people who you are and where you are, give them a reason to want to give you their business.
3. Invite prospects to a seminar: Talking to prospective customers in an educational setting makes them feel like your giving them added value and can build awareness and sales for your business.
4. Write about your topic of expertise: Establish yourself and your business as the expert in your field or business by submitting articles to local newspapers or newsletters.  Don’t settle for an ad when you can show off your expertise.  Who would you rather give your business to – the expert or the business with a 1/8 page ad in the phone book?
5. Visit your website like a prospect: Today’s consumers often check businesses websites before they visit or call.  Make sure your website is easy to find and navigate.

You can check out Mark’s complete article on The Small Business Resource Center.  I think he provides a great short list of ways to jumpstart a relatively inexpensive local marketing campaign.