| In these tough economic times, it is more important | | | | leads is to tag every ad with a unique discount code. |
| than ever to utilize these small business marketing tips | | | | For example, you could say something like "Mention |
| to ensure that you get the most out of your marketing | | | | coupon code ABC and receive 10% off." An |
| and advertising dollars. Being aware of critical data | | | | alternative to this would be to have some fictitious |
| such as how much you spend to acquire each | | | | extension as part of your phone number to receive a |
| customer and where that customer comes from is no | | | | special offer so the caller would ask for extension 123, |
| longer a luxury but rather a matter of survival. You | | | | and your staff would respond "I can help you" and |
| must have systems in place that will record and track | | | | would record that number (say, on a spreadsheet) |
| this type of information so that you can determine | | | | which would be linked to a specific ad or TV spot. Of |
| which of your advertising and marketing methods are | | | | course all prospects would still receive the same offer |
| producing the best results for your business. This type | | | | regardless if they remembered the specific code or |
| of information is not always obvious because of the | | | | not but you would be surprised how many people |
| number of factors involved, so you must rely on | | | | would make it a point to remember exactly where |
| written data to better assist your analysis. | | | | they saw the advertisement and what the code was |
| Tracking Your Advertising | | | | in order to receive the additional bonus or special offer. |
| One of the most important business marketing tips you | | | | Prospects Versus Customers |
| can implement is to have your staff politely asked | | | | Additionally on your spreadsheet, you should also be |
| every single prospect how did they hear about your | | | | tracking whether that prospect converted into a sale |
| business. Every time someone calls into your office or | | | | or not. This is vitally important because you may be |
| enters your business, your staff should be asking | | | | getting lots of responses to one particular type of |
| "How did you hear about us?" I also suggest that you | | | | marketing or advertising, however you may find that |
| take it one step further, if appropriate, and try to get a | | | | the majority of your sales are actually coming from |
| little bit more information. | | | | some other ad or medium. Tracking your responses is |
| For example if they say I heard an ad on the radio you | | | | certainly an important part of your overall marketing |
| can ask "Do you remember what station it was?" or if | | | | program. Ultimately however, you are only interested in |
| they say "I saw an ad in the newspaper [or | | | | where your sales are coming from. Obviously you |
| magazine]" you can ask "Do you remember which one | | | | want to invest your advertising dollars where they will |
| it was?" Some people will not remember exactly | | | | produce the greatest return. |
| where they saw it or don't want to be bothered telling | | | | By implementing these small business marketing tips |
| you, but even if you got that additional data only half | | | | and making them part of your normal operations, you |
| the time, you would still be ahead of the game. This is | | | | can begin to see increased profits in your business and |
| particularly useful especially if you're advertising in | | | | more effective advertising. You can also gain a |
| multiple places using the same type of media. | | | | strategic edge in your marketplace because most of |
| Tag Your Advertisements | | | | your competitors will not be employing these methods. |
| Another business marketing tip to help you track your | | | | |