What are great ways to promote a new small business ?

Question

I have started up a small bookkeeping business from home we are in the second month and its a little slow.

Answer 1

Some marketing tips:

1. Direct mail. Prepare a well-crafted brochure and send it to your target markets in Sunnyvale. Find a vendor in your area renting mailing lists of business establishments or take the time and go over the yellow pages and get their contact information. You can read more of how to use direct marketing strategies here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/direct.htm

2. Publicity. Publicity can oftentimes be more effective than advertising. Not only is it cost-effective (oftentimes you are paying for nothing), but also people are apt to remember an article about your business rather than advertising. People find a write-up or special feature about a business more credible and objective than a paid advertising. Publicity also reaches a wider audience: if you are lucky, the national media might even pick up your story. Contact an editor of your local newspaper and pitch your story. Read the article "Leverage the Power of Publicity for Your Small Business"
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol27/leverage.htm

3. Press releases. Send out press releases through your local newspapers about your business. Whether it is about your story or about a sale you are offering, press releases can be very good exposure for you. You can read more about how to harness press releases for your business here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/public%20relations.htm

4. Use the Internet. The Web can be your online brochure. You can use it to refer your potential clients for more information about your business; and it could also generate clients for you directly. Some of your potential clients may be looking to the Web for a floral designer, and you need to have a strong presence there as well.

5. Network. Join and be active in your local business organizations, chamber of commerce, etc. Increase your visibility in the community. You can find more information on networking here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/marketing/networking.htm

6. Word of mouth. This is the best form of advertising for your business - afterall, it is free. Read "Secrets of Word Of Mouth Marketing" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol154/wordofmouth.htm

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 4

This is easy!!! Find a good marketing school and learn what it is all about. That is if you really want to make a go of your business. Only YOU can know your own business so quit depending on others to make it for you. Use some common sense which will gain you all you want. Put your nose to the grind stone, start early and work late, be honest to yourself and all others and learn to be happy in what you do consequently you will get ahead faster than you think. Greeter 7

Answer 5

Use the business to business yellow pages to target small business and mail out post cards with a short advertisment. Using a post card you will reduce postage costs, create less waste and save time by copying & pasting addresses online into a label program. Oh and offer a small free service. That will get your foot in the door.

Answer 6

It all depends on what type of business it is. Promoting a business is not as easy as you think, especially if you want it to be both cost-effective, and recognized.
You need to study your market, consider where you are located, and whats in and whats not.
If studied effectively, promotion can be very cost-effective, especially for start ups.

Answer 7

Send and/or cold call business in your area to sell your services.
Post flyers/ads in supermarkets, telephone poles. Have small magnet's made up with your business info and place them on mailboxes. Via Internet too.

Answer 8

advertise and make promations like 1/2 price for the first time and offer a special if they refer someone to your office

Answer 9

try making adds and post them evetywhere. call up ur local newspapper and radiostations.