We all rely on marketing to tell us about the latest and greatest events and promotions. We constantly need to move forward, create new things through information, knowledge and, most of all, imagination!
1. Build a strong connection with customers. Know the customer base you want to target, and advertise in places where they frequent. Do you want to increase customer loyalty, boost brand awareness or sell products? Think of the three things that make you better than everybody else or what differentiates you.
2. Reach a large audience. Contact local magazines and newspapers to be considered for an interview regarding your business. You have a chance to reach thousands – even if you don’t have a budget to match. Two good examples in Chester County would be countylinesmagazine.com and chestercounty-life.
3. Join the Chamber of Commerce or local professional organizations. Then make your “connections count” by getting out on the street and talking to people. Even if your business is primarily online, you still need the support of your local community.
4. Push the envelope. Digital printing has put the FUN back into full color printing at a more affordable price than traditional methods. Drive traffic to your website with announcements, posters, banners of special upcoming events and sales.
5. No more boring websites. Creating relevant content attracts your target market and positions you as the expert in your industry. Expand your presence onto the proper social media sites, start a blog, record videos for your business and upload them to YouTube, or create a Pinterest account that showcases your products.
6˚ Creativity Rules! A highly creative idea will take you far beyond a limited budget. Great marketing is part science, part art.
And for the really BIG thinking go a little bananas with “Guerilla Marketing.” This type of marketing is primarily designed for small businesses–without layers of bureaucracy to go through.