1. Have a Leave-Behind
This is something that you can leave behind in any situation, after any sales call or meeting. It’s a friendly, tangible piece that someone can review at his/her leisure. More important, it contains what you want to say, exactly how you want to say it, well after you’re gone. Plus, there’s no need to rely on a person’s sometimes-faulty memory, or just hope that your in-person sales pitch was good enough. A business card is suitable for sharing contact info, but the size leaves little room for sharing much else.

ACTION: Choose one format to start. This could be a flyer, brochure, extra door hangers, fact sheet, or even a postcard. Keep a stock of materials on hand for every business event you attend, and distribute freely. Better yet, keep a digital copy on hand also, for email and Social Media postings. 

Click for a full size example.

2. Advertising with a Call to Action
Placing an ad without an incentive or call to action is simply money down the drain. Make every dollar count with a call to action such as “Call today to Sign Up” or an incentive like “25% OFF through March 15th.” Give a little, and you’ll get a lot in return.

ACTION: Systematically check your advertising efforts to be sure you’re providing a call to action or incentive, every time.

3. Build a Web Presence & Promote It
Today, consumers EXPECT a business to have a web site. Without even a basic informational site, your business risks being perceived as not legitimate.

ACTION: Include your web address on ALL PRINTED MATERIALS. Be sure your online profiles link back to your main site. Ask clients to link back to your site. Get listed in local directories.

4. Don’t Skip the Digits!
Have you ever visited a website which you really connected with, and wanted to contact the company? Your eyes scanned the page everywhere, searching for the all-important digits, only to find it buried on the Contact page. Time is a precious commodity; make it easy to call you!

ACTION: Be sure your phone number is VISIBLE and easy to find, from the moment a visitor sees your home page. Make this change today!

5. Social Media = Viral Marketing
According to The Nielsen Company, the average Facebook visitor spent more than 4.5 hours on Facebook in June 2009. Facebook members don’t just visit the site; they live on it. There are over 200 million active users. Without a Social Media presence, your business is missing out on a major networking opportunity!

ACTION: Spend some time this year building a Social Media presence. Spend 15 to 30 minutes weekly, providing useful and meaningful posts. By establishing yourself as an industry expert, you’ll be the go-to person when a prospect is ready to become a customer. Keep in mind quality over quantity.

6. Use Email to Reach Out
Opt-In email marketing is a powerful and effective marketing tool that can be used to reach an audience interested in your products and services, or to simply stay in contact with past customers. It’s a friendly and flexible way to connect, helping establish you as an industry expert. Best of all, opt-in marketing emails are are being sent to a group of individuals who have said, “Yes, I want to hear from you!”

ACTION: Provide a newsletter sign-up form on your website to gather contact info. Offer something in return: A white paper, tip sheet, discount coupon, offer for something free, etc… Then, follow up with an e-newsletter. Try this on your own, or ask us about our quarterly or bi-monthly email marketing programs.

7. Have a Plan in Place
Whether simple or complex, having a Marketing Plan to follow will help you navigate through the choppy waters of reaching new customers. When you don’t have a plan in place, your marketing efforts tend to be reactive instead of proactive. There’s nothing wrong with spur of the moment marketing. But if you don’t have a core set of foundational marketing efforts on the calendar and in your budget, you may wind up woefully behind, not sure where to turn next, and scrambling to catch up. A plan will enable you to see your ultimate goal with clarity, and provide step by step directions along the way.

ACTION: Start simple. Take some time to write out some measurable business goals. Then connect the goals with a marketing task. Put it on the calendar and plan ahead! If you’re not sure how to do this call an expert. Inspired Creative • 651-714-8381

Recommended reading: The Guerilla Marketing Handbook by Jay Levinson  & Seth Godin

Our passion is working with small business owners to help them grow and flourish through the design of effective marketing efforts. We’d love to help your business grow in 2011.

Give us a call today! 651-714-8381 • http://www.inspiredcreative.com/