| I was talking to a veteran marketing consultant the | | | | business. Wear t-shirts printed with your company |
| other day and I asked him quite cheekily for his top 10 | | | | name on them. Wear them when you go bowling, play |
| low cost marketing tips. To my amazement he | | | | in a band, or go to your children's baseball games. |
| complied and rattled off the following answer. I | | | | Hand out your business card to absolutely everyone |
| grabbed a notebook and feverishly started writing. | | | | you |
| Please note that this man has spent a lifetime reading | | | | 5. Advertise in inexpensive local flyers |
| and researching the marketing game and helping | | | | This is a low cast winner. Advertise in free sheets, |
| thousands of small business owners to institute their | | | | brochures and leaflets distributed by sports club or |
| marketing strategies. He said the following were | | | | sports event organizers, social clubs publicizing dances |
| guaranteed to help business owners get more | | | | or other gatherings and even church communications. |
| customers, increase sales and income and build wealth. | | | | You never know who will see these little flyers. |
| The 10 Tips | | | | 6. Offer lottery tickets as incentives? |
| 1. Make a list and work on your marketing activities | | | | Lottery tickets are cheap but they have a million dollar |
| each day | | | | cachet. Offer your customers a great incentive with a |
| It does not matter whether you are planning activities | | | | free ticket in the lottery. |
| and promotions, or actually implementing them. As long | | | | 7. Send candy in the mail and deliver cookies |
| as you stick to your list of six or seven items and plug | | | | People love anything sweet candy and cookies |
| away at them religiously each day, you will achieve | | | | especially. Whenever you send a mailing or a package |
| your goals. But dont get stale. Periodically add two or | | | | include candy. |
| three additional tactics to your strategy to freshen up | | | | 8. Join your local chamber of commerce. |
| your strategy and makes things fun. | | | | It sounds like a bore but this is a cheap and effective |
| 2. Use buddy marketing to promote your business | | | | way to develop relationships, become involved in the |
| Make a reciprocal arrangement with another similar or | | | | community, build your contact and prospect list, and |
| complementary business so that when you distribute | | | | increase your knowledge. |
| brochures you include a leaflet, flyer, or business card | | | | 9. Think about giving and not just taking |
| of your buddy business. They do the same for you. | | | | Approach every customer with the idea that you are |
| 3. Advertise on your car its free | | | | there to help them really help them You should |
| Order a pair of magnetic signs at your local sign shop. | | | | consider making the sale a secondary consideration. Its |
| Include your business name, phone number, web site, | | | | funny the sale will follow automatically |
| and perhaps even a short blurb or special offer to build | | | | 10. Marketing by walking around |
| excitement. | | | | You should walk around your neighborhood, talk to |
| 4. When you are playing you should be working to | | | | your existing customers and anyone else. Remember, |
| promote your business | | | | they are your prospective customers. |
| Remember, you are the best ambassador for your | | | | |