Top 10 Affordable Marketing Solutions
1. Have a plan.
Having a good, solid marketing plan keeps you on track and greatly reduces the risks of spending haphazardly on piecemealing that won't drive results.
2. Don't over design.
Sure, it looks good, but will it produce the response you need to drive revenue to your bottom line?
3. Know your competition.
By keeping abreast of how your competitors are marketing, you can position your business to exploit its strengths and differentiate itself.
4. Keep marketing samples on hand.
Whenever you come across a piece of direct mail, postcard, ad, flyer, eNewsletter, etc. that YOU like and/or respond to, keep it as a sample to use as a template for your own efforts.
5. Don't buy what you can create yourself.
This includes lists, basic copy for a website, brochure, press release, etc. Create what you can, then have a professional review and edit it — this will substantially decrease your marketing costs as well as greatly increase the likelihood of success.
6. Ensure total marketing adherence.
Ever walk into a store, purchase from a website or call a business only to get bad/no service and vow to never return? If you have employees, make sure they understand the marketing plan and how they fit in. Every touch with a customer is a marketing opportunity — even your invoices!
7. Create Loyalty.
It costs up to 10 times more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one. By creating loyalty to your business, you automatically decrease your marketing costs.
8. Make time to market.
On average, 20% of a business owners' time should be spent on marketing the business.
9. Know your best customers.
By concentrating on this segment (your target market), you can cost efficiently target those most likely to purchase from you.
10. Track Results.
Know what worked and what didn't so you can build on successfully for future marketing efforts.
Like Top 10 lists? Check out Top 10 Marketing Myths.
