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How Do People Know Youre in Business?
One of the most important things to do now that you've started a business is to TELL THE WORLD! But HOW? It can be very expensive and time consuming if not done properly. Here's some inexpensive publicity and marketing ideas to help you get recognition for your new venture. You've picked a great name for your company, made a list of your potential clients, incorporated your business and you're ready to go. What next? Well, you need to find as many ways as possible to tell people you're in business, and why they should do business with you! One of the first things to do is to get business cards printed up and carry them wherever you go. Hand them out to everyone you know. It always amazes me how many people forget to give their cards to friends and family. Even if you "think" your family knows what you do - you might be surprised to find out how little they really do know. Besides, they may have a friend who needs exactly what you offer, and it's much more professional for them to offer a business card than a scrap of paper with your name and number scrawled on it. Make sure your cards are professionally printed and have no spelling mistakes. This may be the first impression someone has of your business - make it a great impression - because you won't get a second chance to do it better. Make sure your cards have as many to contact you as possible: snail mail, fax, phone, email, pager, etc. Give people as many options as you can. Make sure your card also clearly states what you do - if you just have your name and phone number on your card it's likely to be tossed in the garbage. I make sure I give away AT LEAST 5 business cards a day. People ask, "Who can you possibly give 5 business cards to?" How about: leaving one on the tray when I leave my payment and tip for the waitress in a restaurant, giving it to the receptionist when I sign in at the dentist/doctor/vet, go to meet with my child's teacher at school, chat with another parent at the swimming pool watching our kids swimming, someone I meet in the checkout line at the grocery store, etc, etc. If you want to grow you business quickly this is one way to start! Send out press releases to your local paper - these are free and many times the paper may phone for a follow up interview. Have press kits ready when you're asked for them. Remember a press release needs to sound like a news story, NOT an advertisement for your business. If you're not familiar with how to write one there are lots of articles online to help you. First impressions are so important - did you know that you only have 15 seconds to capture someone's attention when they see your advertising in a newspaper or magazine? Yes, 15 short seconds - not long to make a good impression is it? But you know what? It takes even less than that to make a bad impression. So, how to make the most of your 15 seconds in the spotlight - and win customers at the same time? Make sure that any print ads REALLY do a terrific job for you - get feedback from people you trust. Just because you think something looks good, doesn't mean it will sell your product. Test the ad in the paper one week, make a change to it and put it in the paper the next week (on the same day of the week) and see which ad gets the most response for you. Always test your ads this way. You're wasting money if you don't. Create advertising that has the following traits - well designed (get help if you need it), is truthful (don't stretch the truth either) and tells the customer the benefits to them if they buy and lastly requests an action - something like - "call now to order", "order today, supply limited". First impressions count when meeting in person even more! Every person in business should have a 15 second "script" explaining what you do ready to tell a prospective client at anytime. I know some people say that it sounds too rehearsed to be "ready" - I say it sounds like you're prepared to do business. I'd rather do business with someone who is prepared, than someone who is still fumbling around trying to figure out what they're supposed to be doing. An example of a 15 second script might be: "Hi my name is Sally Jones and I am a communications specialist who helps ensure your technology hardware all speaks the same language, so that when your computer tells the printer to print it will!" If you met Sally Jones, heard her introduction and got her card, you would likely remember her because she explained what she did very clearly, but also in a unique way. Not many computer technicians would explain their jobs this way. Find a unique way to explain what you do. Imagine you step into an elevator and right in front of you is the MOST IMPORTANT POTENTIAL CLIENT you could ever imagine and it's JUST THE TWO OF YOU. You have 20 floors (about 15 seconds) to make an impression! What would YOU say?? Does everything that leaves your office have your company name and/or web address on it? It should! That includes your vehicle, stationery, delivery driver's t-shirts, etc - everything! Every day will provide you with opportunities to tell people about your business - don't miss them! Don't be afraid to ask for a cross-promotional opportunity. Team up with other businesses to make your profile larger, and your business will grow much faster. Wendy McClelland is a motivational speaker, marketing innovator and Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach who specializes in teaching people to "think without boundaries!" She is a past nominee for "Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year" and her clients have included software developers, an Olympic athlete and a wide range of business organizations. She has spoken to 10,000+ conference attendees, about Marketing, Internet Business and Motivation. You can contact her through her website - http://www.thinkwithoutboundaries.com
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news Game news: 'GTA IV' hits 10 million, EA meets ESPN (AP via Yahoo! News) Real news from the virtual world: News and notes on the PGA Tour's top 20 golfers (USA Today) Get the latest news and notes on the top 20 golfers on the PGA Tour. These rankings are based 2006-07 PGA Tour results. UAL shares walloped by new posting of old news (Reuters via Yahoo! News) A nearly 6-year-old news story on the 2002 bankruptcy filing of UAL Corp resurfaced on the Internet on Monday, clobbering the airline's shares briefly as some traders mistook the report as current and plausible news. Asyncast delivers custom news to hands-free mobile devices (CNET) The company's Rocketron service allows users to set preferences for the kinds of news stories they want to hear, as well as filter controls for news they don't want. Young adults want less election news (UPI) EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. young adults say there is too much election-related news on Internet news sites, a university study indicates. CNET News Daily Podcast: The new Zune plays its tune (CNET) Microsoft lets "slip" Zune news one day before Apple's big shindig. Big ad group says Google-Yahoo is a bad idea. Who says real spies don't dig social networking? Game News: 'GTA IV' Hits 10 Million, EA Meets ESPN (CBS News) Real news from the virtual world: ABC News gets first Palin interview (Reuters via Yahoo! News) ABC News' Charles Gibson has snagged the first interview with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin since she was named the GOP's vice presidential pick on August 29. United Airlines hit by 5-year-old news (UPI) CHICAGO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- United Airline's stock value plunged Monday after a 5-year-old news story was posted on a Florida newspaper's Web site. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI) Spears wins 3 MTV Video Music Awards ... 'Wrestler' wins Golden Lion in Venice ... Report: MSNBC shuffles election anchors ... Iconic Astroland park closes ... News from United Press International. Site: news - Google News Palm Shares Soar As New Smartphone Wins Wall Street Praise - CNNMoney.com
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for advertising Ad-averse Mobile Users Will Pay to Avoid Advertising (Cellular-News.com) Mobile providers looking to boost their revenues through content downloads and advertising are in for a rough ride, according to a new study by market researchers TNS. A Web advertising dark horse goes on the offensive (Market Watch) While its rivals have been fetching multibillion-dollar acquisition offers from the likes of Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp., online-advertising firm ValueClick Inc. has been busy digging its way out of a legal mess. Intergi's Video Game & Entertainment Advertising Network Has Largest Potential Reach in U.S. According to Newest ... (Centre Daily Times) Intergi (www.intergi.com), a leading video game and entertainment site representation company and advertising network, today announced that it now has a total potential advertising reach of 52.4 million unique visitors in the United States, topping other targeted ad networks - including bellwethers such as Advertising.com Games and Yahoo! Games. Based on the latest data from the August 2008 ... Largest ever advertising billboard at London Bridge Station (London SE1) A huge advertising billboard has been unveiled at London Bridge Station to promote the NSPCC and brighten up hoardings on the concourse. Online Brokerage Sites See Increased Visitors With Ramped up Online Advertising Efforts (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) comScore, Inc. , a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study of the online trading and brokerage industry showing strong visitor growth to online brokerage sites coinciding with heavy online advertising efforts by several of the key brokerages. Advertising spend in Qatar crawls (MENAFN) Advertising spend in Qatar crawls Intergi's Video Game & Entertainment Advertising Network Has Largest Potential Reach in U.S. According to Newest ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance) DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.----Intergi , a leading video game and entertainment site representation company and advertising network, today announced that it now has a total potential advertising reach of 52.4 million unique visitors in the United States, topping other targeted ad networks - including bellwethers such as Advertising.com Games and Yahoo! GCC advertising expenditure rises by 23.6% (MENAFN) GCC advertising expenditure rises by 23.6% NeoMedia and Format Dynamics Join Forces to Integrate Innovations in Online & Offline Advertising (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance) NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC.BB: NEOM), and Format Dynamics, Inc., today announced a strategic alliance designed to accelerate innovation in both online and offline advertising. Bald Is Beautiful (Advertising Space) (CBS News) New Zealand's national airline is offering to pay bald travelers to use their heads - literally - in a new advertising campaign. Site: advertising - Google News SMU to launch graduate advertising program - Bizjournals.com
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