Low cost marketing strategies

Today I was discussing with one of my customers how we can increase the volume of his customers. I decided to write this article to help as many business owners to apply cost effective strategies to attract more customers for their businesses.

1. Plan your marketing strategy. Before you start creating advertisements, leaflets, etc first of all identify your target market. How is the decision maker? For example if I am selling travel packages the right question for my business is not “Who likes to travel” but “Who buys travel”. In the majority of occasions women decide so you have to find ways to approach them.
2. Set up a free listing of your business to all the local directories. This will expand your horizons and either you believe it or not people are searching on internet and they use the local directories
3. Set up your professional accounts to Social Networks like Facebook, twitter etc. This is a crucial point that many business are missing out as it take some time to give results. But the rewards will be beyond your expectations if you use these tools in a professional way.
4. Hand out as many business cards as you can. Where ever you going give your business card and make sure you get one back from the person you are interacting with. This will help you to build a data base of potential customers and communicate with them.
5. Attend meetings of professional groups in your area. This could be a great tool. You interact with business people and you could easily organize a small network with people you have common interests. It’s recommended to connect with 2-3 social or business groups that you will follow regularly.
6. Pick up the phone!!!! I know that maybe this sounds strange…but it’s critical for your business growth in this economic environment. Phone your ex- customers to catch up with them, phone your friends, phone other business owners, invite people to your place just for a coffee. It works!
7. Use the free publicity by sending out Press Releases. Find something unique in your business or create a special offer and send Press Releases to all the Media you have in your area.
8. Send emails. Send a friendly email to all of your contacts with your special offers.
9. Upgrade and use your website. There are several ways you can profit online by using your website properly. There are tools you can apply easily and turn your website into a cash machine.
10. Get rid of the microwave mentality. We live in a society that is based upon immediate results. I realize that you need to move fast to cover your expenses and profit from your business, but the market has a mind itself and it’s not working as we want to. So give the space of time. Anything in life needs time… To cook your food, it takes time, to wash your clothes it takes time, to build a house, it takes time….Why in the business has to be different?

      Stay close to your goals, evaluate your actions and leave a space of time for  the results to appear.