Cost Effective Marketing Strategies

Here are some great ideas to promote your business and keep your brand in front of your audience.
The ones on red are my favorites. Go thru this list and select yours and let me help you put it in your marketing plan. Visit www.creativesolutionsmktg.com to learn more about all the tools we provide to grow your business. You can contact me at marcy@creativesolutionsmktg.com or  951-707-6338.

For those of you who like to write:

1. Place articles in magazines and papers – lots of publications will snap up “free” features.
2. Create compelling and informative newsletters for your business and send regularly to your database of customers.
3. Have a regular column in your local newspaper.
4. Write a blog.
5. Use social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn to keep people informed.
6. Post out greeting cards at Christmas etc.
7. Write press releases to advertise upcoming events/new products etc.
8. Write a booklet.
9. Write letters to the editor giving your opinion on a subject adding your business profession and details to the end of the letter.
10. Post in online forums.
11. Use email marketing for special offers, free tips, upcoming events etc.

For those who like to demonstrate your skill:

12. Volunteer to use your skill for a charity or in a school.
13. Attend trade shows and events.
14. Enter trade award schemes.
15. Give away free information – not dissimilar to this!
16. Upload a demonstration on to YouTube or your website.
17. Run workshops.
18. Attend trade shows or local events.
19. Give away samples.
20. Place display stands in prominent locations.
21. Run webinars.

For those of you who like to talk:

22. Give presentations at business lunches etc.
23. Join networking groups or the Chamber of Commerce.
24. Give talks to community groups or local schools.
25. Hold open days at your place of work.
26. Cold calling or tele sales.
27. Speak to your local radio or TV station.
28. Keep talking about your business – Tell everyone!

Other ways to promote your business:

29. There are many free on-line directories where you can add your website details if you have one. Make sure you are in as many as you can find and the more external links you have into your website the better the search engines can find you.
30. Run webinars – A workshop on the internet.
31. Have an eBay store.
32. Print your logo on your work or leisure clothing.
33. Leaflet drop.
34. Strategic partnership and Co-op advertisement
35. Get involved in your local community – People like to support their local businesses where they can. Make the effort to get to know them by getting involved.
36. Use signage.
37. Purchase web site banners.
38. Collect testimonials to add to your website and literature.
39. Print posters.
40. Give away promotional products with your logo and business details on them.

Establishing brand clarity

Branding meaning

The process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers' mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.

Branding process:

•       Is your logo identifiable, easy to recognize?

•       Is your slogan telling the right message?

•       Do your marketing tools and pieces have consistency in images and message

•       Are you branding yourself as an individual, a service, a product or an organization

•       Who is your target and where are they?

•       Who is your competition and where are they?

I use these questions to establish brand clarity and direction that is used to lay the foundation for the strategic planning and creativity process.

It is my opinion that all of us here are branding ourselves as individuals, regardless of what type of business we have. When you network you sell your personality more than your service. Every business out there is going to tell you that they:

•       Do a great job

•       Have the best customer service

•       The price is just right

The fundamentals of branding come from within. When you show your passion, your knowledge, your mission and when you deliver what you promise in the message you display throughout your marketing campaign.

How do you think these names got where they are? Just by accident?

No… they MARKET the heck out of them!

The name of the company, their colors, their symbol, their typeface, the voice, their slogan, the characters, the endorsements – all these components back up those companies’ vision and mission statements.

If you want your name to be remembered, you don’t take branding lightly. It requires persistency, consistency, reliability and yes investment.

But do you think these big companies have always had millions to spend on multi-million marketing campaigns? No. They started like you and I.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about how to grow your business brand contact
Marcy Decato at 951-707-6338, marcy@creativesolutionsmktg.com
www.creativesolutionsmktg.com