Creativity is the key to a successful marketing strategy. Using creative advertising, you will not only be able to increase the effectiveness of your advertising but you will be able to increase your dollar per dollar return. Creative marketing ideas and tactics are especially important to new businesses and start-ups.
Even though most of us feel uncomfortable doing it, the truth is that networking works. You should always work to develop your own personal business networks with your friends, associates, and clients. When you are starting, it may also help to join in an existing business network. Visit several business networking groups before choosing one that website that fits your needs. If you are friendly and enjoy helping other people, you may be surprised by how much a business networking group can help you.
Another technique I use when I advertise is to always offer something for free. Most people have a natural inclination against spending money. If you offer something for free, we are more likely to get an initial response and this opens the door to more business latter on down the road. One lady successfully started a house cleaning business simply by offering to clean for free the first time. This gave clients a risk-free way to evaluate her and after the service, her potential clients felt more obligated to use her services again. As a business service, these free offers could include a free evaluation or $100 off of the first 6 months or service.
For increase your advertising sphere without increase the size of your advertising budget, online advertising is the way to go. The first thing you need to do is get listed on Google maps. This is a free free service and it takes 1/2 hour to set up. I have had people call and offer to charge me $300 set up plus 100 a month to manage but for a 1/2 of work, you only need to do once that sounds like a scam to me! Make sure you pick all the categories you are offering services in and that your main keyword is in your title. Getting a few legitimate reviews from customers will also go a long way to improving your Google map rankings.
You are much less likely to succeed in business if you do not understand the value of each lead. Do you know how much that last phone call cost you? Do you know on average what each new customer to your business is worth? Sometimes this can be difficult to track, but it is always worth it to try to find out. When a new customer calls ask them how they heard about you. Keep of who referred them or what advertisements they responded to. The truth is that business is always moving towards increased efficiency, where you choose to keep up or not is entirely up to you.
Customer referrals are the best source of business. You will normally have more sales close and you can often have slightly higher margins because you will not be bidding in such a competitive atmosphere.
Even though most of us feel uncomfortable doing it, the truth is that networking works. You should always work to develop your own personal business networks with your friends, associates, and clients. When you are starting, it may also help to join in an existing business network. Visit several business networking groups before choosing one that website that fits your needs. If you are friendly and enjoy helping other people, you may be surprised by how much a business networking group can help you.
Another technique I use when I advertise is to always offer something for free. Most people have a natural inclination against spending money. If you offer something for free, we are more likely to get an initial response and this opens the door to more business latter on down the road. One lady successfully started a house cleaning business simply by offering to clean for free the first time. This gave clients a risk-free way to evaluate her and after the service, her potential clients felt more obligated to use her services again. As a business service, these free offers could include a free evaluation or $100 off of the first 6 months or service.
For increase your advertising sphere without increase the size of your advertising budget, online advertising is the way to go. The first thing you need to do is get listed on Google maps. This is a free free service and it takes 1/2 hour to set up. I have had people call and offer to charge me $300 set up plus 100 a month to manage but for a 1/2 of work, you only need to do once that sounds like a scam to me! Make sure you pick all the categories you are offering services in and that your main keyword is in your title. Getting a few legitimate reviews from customers will also go a long way to improving your Google map rankings.
You are much less likely to succeed in business if you do not understand the value of each lead. Do you know how much that last phone call cost you? Do you know on average what each new customer to your business is worth? Sometimes this can be difficult to track, but it is always worth it to try to find out. When a new customer calls ask them how they heard about you. Keep of who referred them or what advertisements they responded to. The truth is that business is always moving towards increased efficiency, where you choose to keep up or not is entirely up to you.
Customer referrals are the best source of business. You will normally have more sales close and you can often have slightly higher margins because you will not be bidding in such a competitive atmosphere.
About the Author:
Isaac Arnold is an independent business owner. Find out more about how to start a Janitorial Services Business by visiting his site.
