In order to sell your services or products it is crucial that your customers know that you exist, where they can find you, what you are offering, and why they should buy from you! “Becoming an effective marketer is simpler than you think,” says Louise Johnsson Zea, a small business marketing consultant at ACCION. “Even small business owners on a budget can increase their sales by utilizing a few low-cost marketing techniques. “ 1. Word of mouth. Ask your clients to mention your business to their friends, family, and anyone else they know! 2. Make your customers feel special. Include something very inexpensive with a purchase -everyone loves to get something for free. 3. Order business cards online for free at www. vistaprint. com (you have to pay $5. 95 for shipping and handling). These are perfect to give to customers and to hand out at networking events and meetings. 4. Host an annual event and invite your customers. You could organize a baseball game or a pot-luck picnic. 5. Keep a customer birthday list. On their birthday, send them a card and give them a discount enticing them to buy from your business. 6. Be kind to your customers. It is over five times more difficult to acquire a new customer than to keep an old one. If a customer suffered a bad experience pick up the phone and acknowledge what happened, and offer them a discount on their next purchase. 7. Hand out brochures and fliers. 8. If you have a small store – visit larger companies selling similar products and see how they market their products. 9. Advertise in the yellow pages or in local newspapers. 10. And last but not least, Network, network, network! Johnsson-Zea recommends that small business owners write down all their marketing ideas and strategies, share them with employees to get them excited and involved, and set aside some time weekly to adjust the marketing plan. In no time, you’ll see that by investing (a little) money and time in marketing, your profits will soar!
Posts Tagged ‘Marketing Ideas’
Marketing On A Shoestring Budget
December 16th, 2009Business Card Marketing Ideas for Music Instructors
December 4th, 2009It is important for music instructors to always keep business cards handy. This is for them to grab any opportunity of making money as they encounter clients wherever they go. business cards printing, music instructors must include full-color photos that will catch the eyes of prospective clients. Moreover, music teachers need to think of innovative ways to use their marketing tools.
Gaining More Clients with Business Card Marketing
1. Offer Your Expertise: Use the cards to offer your service to current and prospective clients. List the programs that you offer including singing lessons, piano lessons, guitar lessons, and ear training. Give an estimated quote for each session so that people will know how much budget is required for a specific music lesson.
2. Promote Your Website: Aside from your address and telephone number, include your web address so that potential clients can visit your site. People will think that you give importance to creating an internet presence. Promoting your website using the cards can help you gain the attention of many online users.
3. Utilize High-Quality Photos: Make use of photos with high resolution to assure the quality of your business cards. Incorporate images related to the kind of business that you have. Create cards with photos of musical instruments, music sheets, and music notes. You can also check out design templates online. Choose a pattern or create your own design to make outstanding business cards for your music instruction business.
4. Use as a Referral Card: People can write on a business card printed on 13 pt. Cardstocks, Uncoated. Provide space at the back of your prints where clients can write the names and contact information of their friends or relatives.
5. Provide a Discount: Offer a discount on a specific music lesson to interest clients. Use the back side of the prints to introduce the promotions that you offer.
Follow these business card marketing ideas for your music instruction business. Create full-color business cards with the help of a reputable printing company. Use the card to disseminate information and provide special offers.
By: Kat Nocom
