4 Simple Strategies For Local Business Promotion
By Sharon Fling
If you own a small local business, you wear a lot of hats.
You probably don't have time to think up ways to promote
your business online. No problem. Here are 4 simple
strategies that can reap big rewards for your local
business.
GET A WEBSITE
I don't care what anyone says, if you're in business, you
need a website, especially if you're a local business.
Contrary to what you've heard, it doesn't take a lot of time
to get a website up and running. The key is, don't try to do
it all at once. Rome wasn't built in a day and your website
won't be either. Start small and grow -- but please, no
tacky "Under Construction" signs. And with all of the low-
cost low-tech solutions available now, there's no excuse for
not having your own website.
YOUR URL ON EVERYTHING
If the public can see or hear it, put your URL on it. That
includes business cards, letterhead, envelopes, bags,
invoices, flyers, newspaper ads, voice mail greeting. Put
license plate frames with your URL on company vehicles and
even your personal vehicles.
EMAIL MARKETING
Another no brainer. Almost every business owner featured in
the popular Local Success Series attributes their online
success to the consistent use of email. Offer incentives
such as free coupons, information, services, whatever you
can to get them to willingly give you their email address.
(WILLINGLY -- please no spam!) And once you get it, use it -
- don't be afraid to email your customers. Just make sure
you send them something of value and don't do it too often.
There's nothing more annoying than joining a mailing list,
then being bombarded with begging emails.
USE SEARCH ENGINES
Most people head straight for their favorite search engine
(SE), directory or pay-per-click SE when looking for
something online. Of all the search services on the web, the
two most important are Google and Overture. Google is THE
most important search engine -- it supplies results for many
other search services including Yahoo and AOL.
Overture is strictly pay-per-click, and its top 3 results
are displayed as the "sponsored matches" you see on Yahoo,
Altavista, MSN, Lycos, and many other minor search services.
If you want to be found quickly and are willing to pay,
Overture is a good place to start. Otherwise, focus your
efforts on getting into Google. And don't forget to include
the name of your city, town, region or metro area, as well
as local landmarks that prospects and customers may use as
search terms.
That's it. Do these 4 things and you'll be miles ahead of
almost every other local business out there. But remember,
the Internet is just another medium, another tool in your
marketing arsenal. If you want to maximize your advertising
dollars, integrate your online and offline promotions. Use
one to drive traffic to the other. Collect email addresses
in both places. And leave your competition in the dust.
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Create, Replicate And Proliferate
Increase your exposure exponentially with
viral marketing, and watch your online business spread like
wildfire. Proliferate the knowledge of your existence online with
the efforts of other people, using methods like networking
systems, replicable files and leveraged links.
Getting New Business Fast
Even in the most adverse circumstances, an existing business has assets
that can be exploited to drum up sales and cash flow
quickly. Use your intuition about whether to divulge your
real situation to friends who might be moved to help or put
a bright face on your situation by, for instance, saying
you're expanding.
Building Bridges by
Connecting: Enrich Relationships in Life and Business
We all grow from connection. The stronger the connection the more we grow. Take a look at these 4 simple steps to strengthen your relationships at work and home.
The more bridges you build the less isolated you feel. The stronger the connection the greater the opportunities that flow both
ways.
