| ing your small business can at times be very | | | | 5. Ask for testimonials |
| expensive. There are many techniques, however, | | | | Clients are very happy to say nice things about |
| that cost you little or no money - only your time. | | | | you if you ask them. Place their comments in a |
| These strategies can be immensely satisfying too | | | | prominent place in all your promotional materials |
| as you start to see instant results for your | | | | (with their permission, of course); at your web |
| marketing efforts. The response from your | | | | site, in your brochure, in your e-zine. Ask clients |
| prospects and clients will let you know which of | | | | to be as specific as possible, and to write about |
| the following free and low-cost ideas is right for | | | | real results they achieved or a valuable difference |
| your business: | | | | you made to them, rather than just general, |
| 1. Make customer service a priority | | | | vague comments that anyone could say. |
| Providing exceptional customer service will keep | | | | 6. Write and submit articles. |
| your clients coming back and sending you | | | | If you like to write, article writing is a very |
| referrals. Follow up by phone or email with people | | | | effective promotional tool. Even if you don't like to |
| you meet. Have a policy to respond to all inquiries | | | | write, you can dictate an article into your voice |
| within 24 hours. Provide a personal touch by | | | | recorder or voice dictation software, and then |
| making phone calls and putting customer's needs | | | | have it transcribed. Send articles to print |
| first. | | | | publications, online article directories, and specific |
| 2. Add value | | | | online sites that your target market would read. |
| Giving away value that will serve your clients and | | | | 7. Write testimonials and comments for others. |
| prospects is a great way to bond your | | | | Writing testimonials for people you do business |
| relationships. You can create raving fans by | | | | with, or for authors whose books you have read, |
| over-delivering on value and being of service in | | | | may get you noticed if they put your comment |
| meeting the key needs of your prospects and | | | | at their website or in their ezine. Posting to other |
| clients. This doesn't mean giving away more of | | | | peoples' blogs or in forums and discussion lists |
| your time. You can be creative in thinking about | | | | related to your target market also works well. |
| what clients would really like from you over and | | | | Putting a link in your posts will drive traffic to your |
| above the time they spend with you. | | | | website. |
| 3. Expand your database | | | | 8. Send a press release. |
| Creating a targeted list of people who would like | | | | Sending a press release makes good business |
| to hear from you is the #1 thing you need to do | | | | sense. You can create a list of media contacts |
| to promote your expertise and expand the reach | | | | that you could use many times. Write your press |
| of your business. Treat every encounter you | | | | release and connect it to a current event in the |
| have as a chance to expand your network. | | | | news or to a holiday season to get noticed. Send |
| 4. Keep in touch | | | | it directly to the specific editor for your area of |
| Designing a 'keep-in-touch' strategy is crucial to | | | | specialty. Don't make it too salesy or about |
| your business growth. On average, it takes at | | | | promoting you or your business - that would be |
| least seven contacts before people are ready to | | | | an ad, not a press release. |
| do business with you. You need to regularly send | | | | Choose to take action on any of these ideas to |
| items like a tips list, a book review, an article, an | | | | expand on your current marketing strategies and |
| interview, or a checklist to clients and prospects | | | | promote your expertise for free. |
| to keep your services top of mind. | | | | |