Posted on November 21, 2013 · Posted in General

It’s not unusual for small business owners to get in over their heads when it comes to marketing. Whether you skip it altogether or spend more money that you have, marketing your company is difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. Like anything else in life, the best tip is to keep it simple. If you have tried and failed with several different marketing campaigns, you’ve probably found yourself in a marketing mess. Now is the time to get everything in order and set up a clear, simple marketing campaign. There are a variety of easy ways to market your small business effectively.

Sponsor an Event

There are dozens of groups in your region that hold events, and most of these groups are looking for a sponsor. Get in touch with charities and organizations in your area, and find out if these groups are holding any events. When you become a sponsor, you see your company’s name emblazoned on signage and advertising. The marketing experts at www.OrangeSoda.com have found that when you sponsor an event, not only do you get multiple forms of marketing out of the deal, but you will establish yourself in a positive light within the community.

Host a Networking Event

It takes a few organizational skills and a willingness to pound the pavement, but hosting a networking event works to your advantage. Don’t wait for events to pop up in your neighborhood; you will be waiting forever. Instead, knock on the doors of your fellow small business owners, and put together an event of your own. Making contacts is crucial to having success in business, and especially if you are a small start up, you can’t afford not to reach out. As we all know, networking is everything in the business world, but you can’t always wait for it to come knocking at your door. You may have to do the knocking.

Teach

If you didn’t have a special skill, you never would have made the leap and started your own business. Take what you know and teach it to others. You don’t have to charge big bucks to teach someone a new skill; getting your name out there is what you’re after. Remember that you bring in more business with each contact you make, and showing the community and other businesses that you are friendly and open to the public will earn you big points with local customers. Also, teaching could allow you to show others how good you are at what you do, proving that you are a good business to work with.

Chamber of Commerce

Contact a few local real estate agents to find out if they hand out welcome packages to home buyers. If they do, ask if you can include information about your business in their packages. Of course, this means that you have to have eye-catching printed materials made, but it will be well worth it when you find yourself drowning in new customers. You can’t always be around to act as the mouthpiece for your company, so you need to have information available that can tell potential customers how great you are, even when you’re not around.

You don’t need thousands of dollars to market your business effectively, but you can’t afford to forgo marketing altogether. Creativity is the key to promoting your business. Whether you host your own networking event or teach a small class, getting your name out there is as easy as you make it. As long as you remain focused on your main messages that you are trying to convey to customers, you will have a strong campaign. Don’t let your messages get lost by using confusing platforms, or even trying to present it in too many different ways. Repetition and clarity are keys to successful marketing campaigns. Keep your eye on the prize, and your customers will begin to hear you and flock to your business.