Sara Zimmerman Art, Illustration & Design » marketing tips

Free small business marketing ideas

Sara — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:31:57 +0000

Marketing your small business can be overwhelming, especially when you are busy running your business. With the hundreds of available options, it can be even tougher figuring out where to start. Here are a few FREE options of ways to help get your name out there (and it only takes a few hours):

FREE BUSINESS LISTINGS: Google, Bing and Yahoo: Here's a link to one of my blog posts: http://www.sarazimmerman.net/2011/05/16/get-seen-on-google-and-yahoo/. In the 6th paragraph or so are links to set up FREE listings for your business at Google, Yahoo and Bing. Add your info and images if you have time. This will take about a half an hour to do for each.
FACEBOOK: Make a personal Facebook account and make some “friends.” Then, login to your Facebook account and go to the help page (at the bottom) and type in Create a Facebook Fan Page. Then follow the instructions and set one up. Once you have one, add info, add images, etc. This will take about an hour to do. Then add a post once a day for 7 days, then at least once a week after that. Once you have something up there, send an invite to your personal “friends” to become a fan of your business fan page.
LINKEDIN: Start a Linkedin.com profile. Please add as much information as you can, as well as links. This will take about an hour too.
YELP: If you have a storefront, start a business account at Yelp.com. Ask former clients to rate and review you.
EMAIL NEWSLETTER: Do you have an email mailing list? If so, send it through an email newsletter provider where you can track it and make it have your branding. MailChimp.com is great and free up to 2,000 contacts. Create an account, then login again and fill out your profile. If you have time to watch or go through a tutorial, please do. You will need to set up a list for first, last name and email. You can start a general list. Then you can start a template, if you like.

There are hundreds of things to do. There are just a few things to help you get started, but keep in mind, you need to keep up with it to make it effective. If you have any problems or want some help to bring your branding through your marketing efforts so it looks consistent, please contact me. Happy marketing!

Great Social Networking Newsletter

Sara — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:07:19 +0000

If you are confused by social networking or not sure where to start, there are numerous resources out there. One of my favorites is The Social Media Examiner. I know I have written about this blog in the past, but just wanted to get the word out because of how valuable it is. Blogger Michael Stelzner and his guest writers frequently review, rate, and explore social networks outlets breaking it down to layperson's terms. If you don't subscribe to it and are wondering where to go next with the social aspect of marketing your business, sign up to receive the Social Media Examiner's news.

Attracting New Customers Workshop Series

Sara — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:18:17 +0000

Attracting New Customers:  A Workshop Series on How to Successfully Market Your Business

Dates: 3 Thursdays: September 30, October 7 and 14th Time: 6:30-8:30 PM Location: Tentatively the TDPRD Community Building, TBD Myself and Laura Guntren (Business Development and Marketing Coach) are offering a 3-part workshop series for entrepreneurs. This series is designed to give small business owners/entrepreneurs the tools they need to develop a basic marketing strategy, which will help them successfully grow their business. By the end of the workshop the participants will have the tools needed to: ● Create a brand identity that will allow them to consistently and effectively promote their business. ● Position their products and services in a way that differentiates themselves from their competitors. ● Identify simple marketing techniques they can use to attract more GREAT customers (and keep those customers coming back for more). ● Build a basic marketing plan that will help them achieve your goals in a timely manner, without exhausting themselves (or their budget). Teaching small business owners how to attract and maintain a profitable customer base is critical to the economic health of our community. As these businesses grow and thrive they provide jobs, educational opportunities, industry and commerce to the residents of our Sierra Nevada community. NOTE: If you think "everyone" is your target market, believe that you will get website traffic without having a marketing plan, or are not sure if you need a website, a Facebook fanpage, or business cards, then this is the workshop for you. About the presenters: Together Laura and I bring over 15 years of regional and national marketing experience and effective design experience into this workshop. The workshop dates are Sept 30th, Oct 7th, and 14th, from 6:30-8:30 pm. LIMITED TIME OFFER: Get a 25% discount for pre-registration - available until September 15: $90 for the entire series + a materials fee of $15. After Sept 15th: $120 for the series + a materials fee of $15. Contact me to register by calling 530-587-7492 or email sara@sarazimmerman.net.

Recap from my marketing workshop

Sara — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:34:51 +0000

Thank you to everyone who attended last night's marketing meeting. I was so stoked to see so many people interested in growing their business as well as loved the great feedback and comments. Some of the additional things we discussed that are not on the worksheets include: Blogs to Follow: - Sara's blog: scroll down to the right and you will find a place to enter your email address for blog updates at http://www.sarazimmerman.net/more/blog/. - Seth Godin: go to http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ and enter your email address on the left - Marketing Sherpa: go to http://www.marketingsherpa.com/index.html and a pop up will ask you for your info. Business Resources: - Sara Zimmerman Art, Illustration and Design, Graphic and Web Design that will make you stand out, 530-587-7492, sara@sarazimmerman.net - Laura Guntren, Business and Marketing Coach, 530-386-141,7 LCGuntren@hotmail.com, free 1/2 hour consultations - Small Business Administration: http://www.sba.gov/ - Small Business Development Center: closest is Roseville at www.sbdcsierra.org - Books we discussed last night. Recommended Social Networks: (Some of these have tricks to how to create and build them. If you don't know what you're doing and need help, please ask before you spend a ton of time). - Facebook and a Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com - Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/ - Twitter: http://twitter.com/ eCards to send to clients: - Send Out Cards: http://www.sendoutcards.com (you can also have your marketing materials made onto these) - Smile box: http://www.smilebox.com I know I presented a lot of stuff and it can be a bit overwhelming. However, both Laura and I are happy to help you create what you need, from a game plan that fits your time and budget to the actual materials itself. We can help you plan, set up your social networks, your email campaigns, your print/web ads, and integrate you blog and website, and the list goes on.... Additionally, I am thinking of making this a longer workshop (thank you for your feedback to recommend it) and delve deeper into the actual marketing efforts I recommended. I will keep you posted on that. In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to schedule some time, (or know someone who needs a hand), please send them my way. I am very happy to work with small business owners so I can help them move towards their dreams. And if you want to write me some other feedback or a testimonial, please feel free to do by email, through my Linked In, on my Facebook Fan Page, or on Google. A special thanks to the girls at Full Circle Movement for letting me host this workshop there and for Juju Z. Treat Company in providing some tasty, chocolate stuffed marshmallows. Stay stoked and true to your passion!

Marketing plans- where to start

Sara — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:23:59 +0000

Many small business owners haven't gone to business school or worked with the Small Business Development Center. Maybe about half actually have a business plan where even less have a marketing plan. And for small business owners, a marketing plan is the best way to keep track of your advertising and marketing dollars without having to reassess on a daily basis. Additionally, a marketing plan helps you determine whether your current marketing strategies are paying off or whether or not to try something new. Here is a good, brief article from business consultant, Michael H Kaleikini, that provides some basic elements for the development of a marketing plan.