Maximum Marketing - Minimum Budget
Two years ago I started my small Virtual Assistant business with a non-existent marketing budget. I borrowed marketing books from the library, read countless articles on the Internet and joined a professional trade association of my peers. I learned hundreds of marketing techniques and one valuable lesson. The lesson I learned is that the financial ruin of large companies is often achieved by incredibly expensive and glitzy marketing plans that do not take into account the company's ability to earn a profit. Over time, I found that the most effective marketing techniques that allow a company to make a profit are those that are inexpensive or free. What a fantastic discovery for me at that time! This knowledge, combined with hard work and excellent customer service, enabled my small business to expand at a phenomenal rate.
When developing your marketing plan be aware that frugal marketing techniques take more time and a great deal of personal creativity but they DO produce results! Following are a few of my most successful frugal marketing techniques:
Website
It is not necessary to spend thousands of dollars on a beautiful website. Some of the most effective and interesting websites I have seen were built on a frugal budget. Far more important than the cost is the content of a website. At a minimum your website should include your company name, contact information, tagline or slogan, company/owner biography, a list of services, a client list or list of testimonials, articles or press releases you have written and any interesting information related to your business that might be of help to your visitors. It is essential that you use a paid web host and not a free service. Free hosting may exclude you from search engine listings and may brand you as a neophyte in your field when that impression may not be correct. Inexpensive hosting is available and many hosts provide free or low cost web templates that will give your site a polished and consistent look. For a list of affordable web hosts visit the Web Host Directory and Host Review. Having a well-developed website will help you leverage the results of your other frugal marketing techniques and, in the long run, will save you money by reducing the overall cost and shipping of your marketing materials.
Public Relations
Create a press release and submit it to your local newspaper. Highlight the unusual aspects of your business and educate the reader about your business and your industry. Do not simply promote your own company, but promote the industry as a whole. Position your business as unique in that industry by explaining, for example, how your company takes a novel approach to delivering products or services. Take the same press release and format it for the Internet. Submit it to as many free press release sites that you can find such as LocalBusiness.com, PRWeb.com and USA News. For added impact, search the Newslink website to find other community newspapers in your state that might be interested in your business news. Follow standard press release formatting and be sure to add that you are available for interviews in your contact information section as this opens the door for feature interviews during slow "news" weeks for local papers. Send out a press release every quarter or at least twice a year. Always include your website's URL in any marketing materials and press releases. For more information about press releases including formatting visit the Netpreneur Exchange, Infoscavenger and Pertinent Information.
Contests
Sponsor local or on-line contests by providing a prize. This could be one of your products or a coupon for two or three hours of your services. In return you will receive valuable free publicity. Find local contests, which would welcome your participation by scanning your community newspaper. Target on-line contests by surfing for well-established companies that compliment your own. For example, if you sell wine glasses, you should seek a company that sells wine and offer a set of wine glasses as a contest prize. Another option is to search for e-zines (on-line newsletters) that cover a topic related to your business and ask the editor about partnering to offer a contest to readers with your product or service as the prize. You can find e-zines by searching on-line directories such as BestEzines.com, The Ezine Directory or Ezine Search.
Publishing
This is my favorite technique. Write an article about an interesting or timely topic related to your business that would be of interest to your target market. Ask a friend or loved one with editing skills to proof your article for you. Create a four or five line biography at the end of the article that includes your contact information: your company name, e-mail address and company URL. Add a copyright statement at the very bottom of the article. Then submit the article to on-line article archives, e-zines and appropriate websites. This technique helps establish you as an expert in your field, publicizes your business, and creates incoming links to your website to increase your link popularity and search engine rankings. You can begin submitting your article to: Article City, Expert Articles and GoArticles.com. These three resources will get you started but a quick Internet search will provide an extensive listing of thousands of venues on-line.
Networking
Research your local chamber of commerce and start attending their networking events. Develop and rehearse an interesting "elevator speech" that summarizes your business and your talents in less than thirty seconds. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible, give your elevator speech and hand out your business cards and collect the business cards of prospects. Take the business cards you collected, use the back of the card to write down what you discussed or other important information about the prospect, and FOLLOW UP! Write and mail a quick note on your business stationery to say how nice it was to meet them and mention something memorable you discussed. Keep in touch with them on a regular basis.
Join on-line communities such as newsgroups, discussion boards, e-mail lists, etc. where your target market and peers congregate. Introduce yourself and your business if introductions are allowed by the community guidelines and encouraged by the list moderator. Establish your credibility and promote yourself by responding to questions in your field of expertise. Join an affordable, well-known and professional association of your peers on-line or locally. If it is permitted, announce your availability to take on sub-contracted work from your peers, but read the guidelines and do not "spam" these lists which will result in a loss of your credibility and professionalism. Become involved locally with a worthy charity by donating your time, products or services.
Over time, as your business grows, you can and should add a few paid marketing techniques to your marketing plan. But you must continue to use the most rewarding of your free and inexpensive marketing techniques to maximize your profit. Never forget that creativity, hard work and excellent customer service are the keys to growing a successful business while keeping your marketing costs in check.
(c) 2002, Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights reserved.
About The Author
Bonnie Jo Davis is the author of a new e-book "Articles That Sell" featuring her favorite marketing technique at http://www.ArticlesThatSell.com.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:08:19 GMT Spa Update: Hamilton Penalty Hands Win to Massa - AutoWeek
AutoWeek - By NIGEL ROEBUCK A drive-through penalty is the punishment for almost causing a collision in the pits. We know this because Bruno Senna was thus punished in the GP2 Series race at Spa-Francorchamps, and it cost him the race. Massa declared winner of Belgian GP Raikkonen's title hopes doused by Hamilton at Spa Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:46:22 GMT India a step closer to nuclear trade - Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor - The Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed Saturday to lift a 34-year ban on selling nuclear technology to India, even though it hasn't signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. India secures controversial access to nuclear technology US Congress signals it will clear N-deal Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:01:15 GMT Side events bring out celebs in advance of VMAs - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - LOS ANGELES (AP) - Though the MTV Video Music Awards are the main event in town this weekend, some celebrities are satisfied enough with the side activities connected to the extravaganza. Britney 'Getting an Opportunity to Start Over' at VMAs Brand and Spears have been promoting the awards on MTV Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:10:38 GMT 'Wrestler' takes top honors at Venice - Variety
Variety - By NICK VIVARELLI Darren Aronofsky drama “The Wrestler,” starring Mickey Rourke as washed out pro wrestler Randy (the Ram) Robinson, in comeback mode both on and off the screen, pinned down the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion. Is Evan Rachel Wood dropkicking Marilyn Manson for Mickey Rourke? A Glance at 'The Wrestler' Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:55:44 GMT Hurricane, at Category 4, Heads Toward Cuba - New York Times
New York Times - By MARIA NEWMAN Hurricane Ike grew into a bigger threat to Florida and the Gulf Coast Sunday as it roared through the Bahamas mid-morning, with forecasters expecting it to gain in strength as it approaches Cuba. Video: Raw Video: Ike Pounds Turks and Caicos Powerful Hurricane Ike looms as trouble for Gulf Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:52:07 GMT Health Highlights: Sept. 6, 2008 - Washington Post
Washington Post - On the heels of the huge nationwide salmonella outbreak that caused more than 1400 illnesses from Mexican peppers, a regional Oregon alfalfa sprout distributor has recalled its product in Oregon and Washington state after the sprouts were linked to 13 ... Salmonellosis outbreak prompts sprout recall Salmonella outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:31:13 GMT Michigan spared sting of West Nile - Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press - BY SHERI McWHIRTER • RECORD-EAGLE • September 7, 2008 TRAVERSE CITY -- West Nile virus hasn't seriously bitten Michigan this year and seems to have spared the state's northern reaches. Yes, the mosquitoes were nasty this summer Aerial survey being conducted to find mosquito breeding grounds Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:53:44 GMT RSS For Web Pages |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... You may not realize it, but you already have a... Read More In virtually any business first impressions are lasting impressions. Most... Read More With the Internet opening up the doorway to the global... Read More With the explosion of the internet and online businesses many... Read More Why would you use an email or online survey when... Read More Subtle adj. Showing or making, or capable of showing or... Read More The Tale of Two Dentists...Dr. Namel and Dr. Ivory are... Read More One of the biggest marketing mistakes businesses make today is... Read More 1. Business CardsIt is very important to market yourself via... Read More How do you personally define success? High income? Substantial net... Read More What's a promotional freebie? A promotional freebie is something you... Read More When marketing themselves to leads and prospects there are five... Read More Tips on writing great copy for your marketing efforts.It's just... Read More A case study in online "thinking outside the box" The... Read More You may be in business for yourself or as a... Read More I often wonder how the practice began of pretending to... Read More There is a simple but almost mystical law which governs... Read More 'Word of Mouth' is still one of the most effectivemarketing... Read More There are a number of difficulties a beginning entrepreneur may... Read More So you've invested more time than you ever believed possible... Read More What Really Makes Your Postcard Mailing Successful? The biggest single... Read More How Colors Effect Our Emotions?One of the most interesting things... Read More You've had one thousand of the finest, most eye-catching business... Read More You can love it or you can hate it but... Read More With the continued proliferation of the Internet, the meaning of... Read More
Adsense
websites
The Secret to Adding Credibility to Your Business ? Testimonials!
Image is Key to Your Marketing Success
Global Market in the Cyber world?Go and Get It !
Marketing With Brochures
Successful Surveys: 10 Tips for Better Results
B2B Marketing - Why it Should be Subtle
How To Go From Under Dog to Top Dog by Unleashing The Power Of a Postcard
Educating Your Customers
Keeping Marketing Simple / Ten Simple Steps
Marketing Success Defined
Promotional Freebies
Integrity and Marketing - Finding the Right Balance
Marketing Copy - Brand Identity Guru
Fair Measures Corporation
Free or Not Free ? That is the Question
Marketing The Real You
Postcards ? Picture Perfect Promotion
Word of Mouth Marketing
10 Important Steps to Mail Order Success
The X Factor
How to Really Get Your Customers
Make More Sells With Colors
How to Use Business Cards to Network and Market Your Business
Trade Show Events ? Do?s and Don?ts
Todays Definition of Marketing. Has It Changed?
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Four Simple Ways to Cut Your Trade Show Marketing Budget in Half
Many times when a trade show is planned for there... Read More
The 3 Unknown Steps of Marketing Success
To be your own marketing expert you first need to... Read More
Dont Use Yourself as Your Pricing Yardstick
"I wouldn't pay more than what I charge now."If you... Read More
Connect to Your Customers with Superb Sales Letters
In the age of e-newsletters and e-mail, you may not... Read More
Eight Steps To A Great Marketing Plan
Step 1: Where Am I Now? Before you decide where... Read More
The Money Making Secret of The Toll Booth Position
I'm a marketing consultant and at one of my client-companies,... Read More
Whats Your Marketing Weak Link?
Your marketing weak link could be undermining the rest of... Read More
The Marketing Plan and the Four P?s
The Marketing Plan section of the business plan demonstrates how... Read More
Trade Show Exhibit Booth ? 7 Tips to Improve Yours
Once you have decided to participate in a trade show,... Read More
5 Great Ways to Reach Your Target Market
There are many ways to reach out and find the... Read More
25 Ways To Make Your Next Direct Mail Campaign Work
This list contains 25 powerful strategies to improve your direct... Read More
Marketing ? Like a Game of Chess
Have you started thinking about your Valentines Day Promotion yet?It... Read More
Online Advertising Versus Traditional Media Advertising
Before I compare today's online advertising with traditional media advertising... Read More
Business to Business Direct Mail Sales Letters Need an Offer (and Heres Why)
In direct mail, the offer is the incentive or reward... Read More
Marketing on the Cheap: Write? Right!!
We all know the value of writing articles for promoting... Read More
Like Brushing Your Teeth
What do the following things have in common: brushing your... Read More
How to Turn Your Promotional Products Expense Into a Profit Center
If you use promotional products you probably already know the... Read More
The Process of Change in Marketing Approaches
In a world economy that is in constant flux and... Read More
How to Use Direct Response Post Card Decks as a Valuable Market Research Tool
Market research specialists have discovered a new tool which enables... Read More
Is CRM Technology Living Up To the Hype?
Over the last few years the buzz about CRM (Customer... Read More
The Biggest Needle In The Haystack
Hello everyone! Have you ever been curious about something, and... Read More
Take a Leap! How To Take Your Business To New Heights
Take a moment to reflect on the current reality of... Read More
Creative Online Marketing For Salespeople and Business Professionals
New to a sales career? Want to market yourself but... Read More
Avoid the Duds: 10 Strategies for Selecting The Perfect Speaker
Today, more than ever, the success of meetings relies heavily... Read More
Marketing Discipline and the Joy of Success
Discipline Is Important.I recently read an article about why discipline... Read More
Marketing |