| Growing companies are, at some time or other, faced | | | | 7. Business Card and Network Groups - Keep |
| with the issue of marketing their products or services. It | | | | professional, good quality and well-designed business |
| is possible to engage marketing consultants to do this, | | | | cards handy. Join a networking group for support and |
| but then you may have to shell out a small fortune to | | | | business leads. |
| get the advice. An economic option is to try out some | | | | Implementing Low Cost Marketing Ideas: |
| "guerrilla marketing" ideas to promote your business. | | | | Knowledge, skills, systems and tools can be used to |
| 1. Press Releases - Make press releases that are | | | | create low cost marketing strategy for new |
| newsworthy and draw attention of the reader. The | | | | businesses to attract customers on shoestring budget. |
| releases should be short, to the point with an opening | | | | Knowledge: Read books on marketing knowledge, buy |
| sentence or phrase that is convincing and holds the | | | | couple of marketing manuals from web marketing |
| attention of the reader. | | | | masters. Learn the marketing strategy from |
| 2. Search Engine Marketing - Having your own | | | | consultants or pay marketing expert to market your |
| Website and using the services of a search engine like | | | | business to target clients. |
| Google is almost a must in today's environment when | | | | Skills: Develop the three important marketing skills.o |
| greater numbers of people are accessing the Internet | | | | Ask open-ended, right questions to learn of client's |
| for their requirements. The website host should be | | | | needs and problems faced or prospect of the |
| reliable so that prospective customers can land up on | | | | product.o Listen carefully, provide problem-solving |
| your site without difficulty. Website design should be | | | | approach.o Write compelling copy of marketing |
| imaginative to draw attention. It is a relatively | | | | materials to attract indifferent customers. Demonstrate |
| inexpensive method of accessing greater number of | | | | the ideas they can use practically and understand the |
| people. The website should have your contact details, | | | | working of your product. |
| including your business phone number and email | | | | Systems: Define responsibilities, schedule marketing |
| address. Use newsgroups that are in a similar line of | | | | activities and use computers to automate tasks, hire |
| business so that your site is accessed easily. | | | | people for clerical activities. Focus your time and |
| 3. Trade Shows - Rent space at trade shows and | | | | attention on clients to deliver products or services in |
| hand out promotional material to clients. Keep a | | | | stipulated period. Manage contacts add to your |
| feedback or order address register for clients. After | | | | database. Broadcast e-mails or send information to |
| the show, contact them keeping promises made at the | | | | prospective clients, respond to each query to handle |
| booth. | | | | clients respectfully. |
| 4. Direct Marketing - Create a finely tuned list of | | | | Tools: The basic tools needed for target market your |
| targeted recipients and directly mail the quality material | | | | products or services are;o Communication tools like |
| to them. | | | | phone, email and web sites.o Information for clients |
| 5. Yellow Pages - Make your ad stand out by | | | | about your business, written proposals, brochures, or |
| attractive designing and listing under specific, targeted | | | | pamphlets.o Marketing material is the finished copy you |
| head. | | | | use on everything from business cards, brochures or |
| 6. Public Service - Position your company in a positive | | | | online. |
| manner in your community. Sponsor events, donate | | | | Identify the gaps in your marketing; address them with |
| your products to local charities and hold prize-giving | | | | efficient but frugal marketing strategies. As you gain |
| events with local schools or other groups. Have | | | | experience, you will learn to maximize profit on |
| promotional material like t-shirts, pens or mugs with | | | | minimized expenditures. |
| company's name emblazoned on it. | | | | |