Unique Business Strategies

Every small business, including your own, has it's own identity, so the small business marketing strategy that works for your business will be unique to your business.

Don't rely on copying others.

Your marketing strategy should be as individual as your business.

And it will be a mixed bag. With marketing, success rarely comes from just one area.

The only way to find out what makes your customers respond is to get busy and try out several small business marketing ideas, maybe all at the same time!

Mail Shots

Badly targeted mailshots are without doubt a waste of money.

But that isn't to say you can't find new customers using mailshots.

Mailshots work best if you've a very clear understanding of who your target customers are AND exactly where to find them.

For example, if you are selling high value products you should only target wealthy areas of town.

Another example, if you sell products that are mainly used by householders during the day you have to target areas where people are at home during the day.

Obvious really. Choose the target market and message carefully to give yourself any chance of success.

Cold Calling

Cold calling by telephone is governed in some countries, including the UK, by telephone preference services, so make sure you're not breaking any laws before you make those calls!

If you're brave (or foolish) you might try cold calling door to door. It's extremely difficult.

It's likely you'll annoy as many people as you'll sign as a customer - so before trying this tactic be sure that you have the right personality to deal with any insults you'll receive.

If you're cold calling door to door you've a better chance of success if you're providing a service to a householder, such as window cleaning or gardening, but people are naturally defensive when a stranger appears at the door, so don't expect spectacular results.

Warm Calling?

If you don't like the idea of cold calling how about trying out your message on friends and colleagues instead?

It will be easier to talk to and you could be pleasantly surprised by how much business you can find this way.

Current Customers
Probably the most under-used and potentially profitable method of all.

Your current customers choose you because you provide what they want or need.

Do you have any sort of organized system in place to encourage them to refer new ones?

If you don't you are missing a golden opportunity to expand your business with little cost or risk.

Sponsorship

This works better for local business.

Your name in the local news every week, as sponsors of the local football, hockey or netball team or league, can help to promote your business.

The value of sponsorship is generally restricted to a localised area so be careful how much you spend on this type of marketing.

 Networking

Works well for some businesses as long as you can devote plenty of time to it.

Part-time networking may bring some business in the short term, but unless you're prepared to make a special effort to stay in touch with your networking partners it will often fizzle out.

Online networking has overtaken traditional 'breakfast clubs' because it's much more flexible and not as expensive.

Source: http://www.small-busy-business.com