“Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark”
- Steuart Henderson Britt
Network
social media platform - if your customer doesn’t see your message it’s a missed opportunity.
billboard! Always have business cards on hand and pass them out to anyone who’ll take them. Shameless, self promotion is free and costs you nothing. Give samples to friends, family or that random guy on the corner - get the word out. Sponsor your children’s sports team. Don’t have children of your own? Find someone else’s, the objective is to make sure everyone knows your business.
I know it seems obvious, but it’s worth repeating - network, 24/7. Use social media, community business groups, personal and professional connections. Opportunity is all around you.
You get what you pay for
Making marketing decisions based on cost alone means you may be reducing your market reach. Cheap advertising can actually cost you money. Some media companies will offer new ventures free, promotional advertising in hopes you’ll purchase advertising from them in the future. Although this is a great marketing opportunity, insist on seeing the piece before it goes live, mistakes can hurt a new business.
Referrals and testimonials
Let your happy customers spread the word for you. Reward them for referrals and ask for testimonials - ask as soon as you’ve completed an order or a project, a satisfied customer is more than happy to promote you. Remember - an unhappy customer will spread their dissatisfaction for free and much quicker than a happy one.
Look BIG - run small
My business motto has always been “look big - run small” - spend money where it’s effective and save wherever you can. For example, run your business out of a home office if possible, the money you’ll save is astounding, put the savings into products or services that increase revenue.
Work it
Use all the tools and assets you have available to promote your business. Logo or wrap the company or your personal vehicle, it’s a moving
SUMMER 2019 www.pei-living.ca SUMMER 2019 www.pei-living.ca
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