Legacy Marketing Services

In yesterday’s post, we talked about being competitive with a small business in a challenging business environment. Today we are going to look at 10 ways to make the most of your money in your marketing plan when your budget is limited.

Know what works. Have a method of tracking where existing customers are coming from.
Repeat your success. Keep in contact with current customers and notify them of specials and new products. An e-newsletter is a cost effective way to keep your name in front of your customers.
Look at where your business is currently coming from and identify ways to expand that base. Are there additional services you can provide?
Are you spending all of your money in low trust, low return venues? Evaluate your current marketing and promotions in relation to the marketing trust pyramid.
Network. Most people think about business to business when they think of networking, and that is a very valuable avenue. However if you are a small business owner, every person you come in contact with should know what you do and the product or service you provide. You shouldn’t be obnoxious about it, but you should be close to it.
Do joint marketing with complimentary businesses. A friend of mine does an amazing job of this with her …

Every where you turn, people are talking about the state of the economy: rising gas prices, higher food costs, and a struggling housing market.

As a business owner, this can be paralyzing when the only thing that is being discussed is lack. However, here is the bright side of a slower economy, it can be motivation to create a better service, offer a more competitive product, make your business processes more efficient, and be more creative with your marketing.

Historically, small business has been the fuel that has propelled the U.S. out of recessions.

Why is that? You would think that larger corporations with vast resources would be more insulated against downturns.

The best small businesses thrive in a poor economy out of necessity and they are flexible enough to react to changing times.

When sales start dropping and customers aren’t coming in the door, they can change offerings, go out and solicit business, brainstorm ideas and implement them to get things moving.

Small businesses don’t have the time and can’t afford to waste money on strategies that don’t work. They don’t spend countless man hours on committees deciding on the best course of action.

They get out and do.

Small Businesses Keep Trucking

You would think with all of the dire predictions out there that people would just sit, hold tight, and not make any big changes. That may be true in some areas; however, it is not true of small business start-ups.

I researched …

In a recent post on Turning Dreams into a Reality, I mentioned a local business, Podlinez.com, that was nominated for a Webby Award.  Below is a note from Michael Sharp, CEO of Podlinez.

Hi everyone, Michael Sharp here with Podlinez.com. I just wanted to stop by to say “Many Thanks” to all our friends in Houston, Humble, Porter, New Caney and especially the awesome Kingwood community for the tremendous support you gave and helping us to win the “2008 Peoples Voice Award”.

Podlinez won the peoples voice for the Mobile Market Place and Services category because you guys worked your hearts out to get out the vote against some very powerful competition including Chase Bank, North West Airlines, Monster.com and M Shopper. We are thrilled to have won and are very excited about going to New York for the gala and making our 5 word speech.

We are very proud to be part of the Kingwood community and know we would not have won without your fantastic support. You folks are the greatest ever!

Michael Sharp
CEO – Podlinez Makes Every Phone A Podcast Player
http://podlinez.com

A recent study published in the Harvard Business Review by Magrid Abraham of Comscore gave a clear illustration of how display and search online advertising work in tandem boost revenue, and not only web site sales, but in-store sales as well.

The studies demonstrate consistently positive results showing that online display ads work to build traffic to an advertiser’s website, to increase sales on their website, and to increase sales through their in-store channels. Magrid Abraham, Comscore Voices, 4/7/2008

If you have a business and have even the slightest reputation for being civic minded, you are probably hit up constantly for sponsorships and donations.

Supporting local organization and events is a good thing in and of itself. You build goodwill in the community and strengthen relationships. The laws of prosperity apply to businesses as well as individuals.

However there are marketing benefits to be had from donations in addition to the karmic rewards. Here are three ways to take advantage of those benefits.

Make Sure the Donee has Your Contact Information

This seems pretty basic doesn’t it? Well it is, but I can’t tell you how many times a charity event committee member has handed me a gift card or gift basket saying, “So-and-So donated this.” I have no idea who So-and-So is, what they do, how to contact them, or where to send a thank you.

At the very least, a business card with your name will do. Send a couple of business cards with your donation. One to go with the item and one for the organizer.

(If Mr. Handley with Handley Travel is reading this, thank you for the Houston rodeo tickets donated for the Picnic on the Park raffle. I Googled your name and couldn’t find a web site for your business. You need one. Call me).

Give Your Donation Pizazz!

This tip mainly applies …

For most of us, internet usages is part of our daily life. Maybe not quite everyone, 90 percent according to Internet World Stats.

But though it is familiar, the responsibility of commissioning a web design and spearheading the creation of an online presence can be intimidating. A web site is like a car, just because you use it everyday doesn’t mean you know how it works or even the components that comprise it.

So if you have a business, where do you start? How do you determine the type of web site you should have, or a ballpark price range to invest? What should it look like and what should be on it?

Or maybe you don’t own a business, but you have been given the responsibility of researching online options for your employer or organization.

The first question to answer is:

Does My Business Need a Web Site?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes.

If you are providing a product or service that people pay you for and you live in an area where there is internet access . . . yes you need a web site.

Consumers Let the Mouse Do the Walking

everyone listed in yesterday’s Yellow Pages needs to also be available on the internet today–it’s where your customers expect to find you. Roy Williams, …