As an aware and knowledgeable professional you already know that before conducting any type of marketing strategy the first thing to consider is who and what your target market will be. But knowing your intended market is only the beginning since marketing is ‘everything’ you do to attract and keep your target audience.
Because there are so many variables and strategies when it comes to marketing, it’s sometimes difficult to know which method will be the best and most cost-effective for your particular situation. But regardless of your financial situation, presenting yourself in a professional manner is the key component for any marketing strategy. Whether you use simple less expensive tactics such as newsletters, articles and letters, versus expensive commercial advertisements through the media, you are always representing yourself! Despite the methods you use to market your product or your service you are in fact forever marketing yourself. Which means that whether you have a lot or a little to spend on your marketing budget, everything must be done with professionalism.
A Way to Test Your Market!
So how can you get noticed without overspending? Getting down to the nitty gritty of marketing, the best approach of course is using a mixture of different strategies to get the best results. Since trying out various forms of marketing is ideal, there are a variety of ways to test the market without breaking the bank. As an example, for those who are about to present a new venture and can’t or don’t want to spend a lot of money on a high cost web site, I recently discovered a practical way of being on the Internet without investing in an expensive web site. This is particularly advantageous for the new entrepreneur. You literally rent a very professional and attractively designed site for as long as you wish. You are under no obligation for any length of time, plus your site is submitted to major search engines and directories all for less than the cost of a dinner out per month. Choosing from a large selection of designs, you simply submit the copy for four separate pages and the company does the rest. The service, which can be found at NetpageNow.com, is a fabulous way to test the waters of your new venture.
Attracting the Media
When it comes to press releases, I’m always in favor of putting out your newsworthy information to the media, particularly since it’s a great way to gain exposure. But using a good distribution company can be costly for the new business or service. Here too there are several ways of putting out a release without it costing a bundle. If you have good writing skills, all it takes is a little bit of your time, energy and a bit of research. If your writing leaves something to be desired, find a good writer that doesn’t charge too much and let them help you create a great press release. Once it’s completed there are a few sites that allow you to post press releases without spending a dime. One is PRWeb.com, which gets a lot of attention and activity, and the other is gebbie.com. At gebbie.com, you’ll find hundreds of resources for submitting a press release without it costing anything. There you’ll find separate categories for magazines, newspapers, TV and radio all arranged for different services and products. Of course you should always try your local community paper, TV, radio and cable stations. Plus you can try conducting some research on the web for specific press release submissions. It may take a bit of exploration but simply use the words press release submission + whatever type of business you conduct such as artist, web master, software utilities, etc., in your search and you’ll probably come up with many places seeking your newsworthy information. The exposure is great, plus you get to see what type of results you’ll receive before spending any money.
Partnering With Those Who Are a Good Match
Another cost effective way to market your company without it costing a large sum of money would be by partnering with another business that is a good match to yours. For instance, I partner with other web design companies by paying a small percentage for any client they refer to me. Usually the web master has had some experience with my writing abilities either through my articles or our having collaborated on a project, which makes them secure in recommending me. It’s a win/win situation for everyone. I get a new client, the web master receives a small sum for simply recommending me and the client is thrilled to have good copy for his or her site. That’s only one small example. There are many people that you can partner with that align with your objectives. Just use your imagination and pay attention to the different people you communicate with on a regular basis. You just might be overlooking a great opportunity.
Never Skimp on Your Business Cards
While there are countless ways of marketing your business, the most important and the one that costs the least amount of money is your business card. Insignificant as it may seem it is still the most important tool for your business. Though small in size it is large as a promotional tool, which means it should be fabulous. Spare no expense when creating your business card because it will be the one thing you use at every turn. It’s the first thing people usually see when it comes to your business and we all know about first impressions. It immediately provides important contact information, even if the person who receives it doesn’t need it immediately. It’s easy to carry and always simple to offer. Clearly it is the most necessary and least expensive marketing tool, but once again make sure it represents you in a way that says great things about you.
Sales Letters
Regardless of how many forms of promotional material you create the simple yet very important sales letter is still necessary and cost effective. Whether you spend a goodly amount of money on marketing material or have to be prudent with your budget, this one dynamic means of communication has staying power. Not only does it allow you to explain in detail what you do and what you have to offer, but it requires nothing more than some time and effort. It can then be sent via e-mail, snail mail or fax. Once again the importance of professionalism is the key. Whatever your product or service, a good sales letter can prove to be one of the best marketing tools available and the least expensive.
When it comes to marketing, the bottom line is that no one method can guarantee your success, which means you may have to try a few different strategies to find the one that works best for your particular business. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money in the process. Critically important is presenting your product or service in a way that conveys a message of professionalism and credibility and as you see above there are many ways to do that without spending tons of money.
Charlene Rashkow brings 15 years of experience as a Writing Stylist and Author to her creative efforts as a freelance business writer/consultant. She has successfully helped companies and individuals reach their objectives by writing outstanding press releases, bios, articles of interest, business plans, resumes, web site content and all other forms of marketing material. To speak with Charlene you may contact her at http://www.allyourwritingneeds.com or write her at info@allyourwritingneeds.com. You can also call her directly at (310) 514-4844
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