Tag: small business

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Free small business marketing ideas

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!

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Marketing Workshop Canceled

Sorry folks: Laura Guntren and I have decided to postpone our upcoming marketing workshop until a later date. If you are still interested in upcoming marketing workshops or ideas, please sign up for my newsletter and to receive blog feeds through my sidebar.

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Attracting New Customers Workshop Series

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.

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Recap from my marketing workshop

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!

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Free marketing workshop for clients

As a way of giving back to my clients, I am offering a free marketing workshop on Tuesday, June 28th at 6:30pm (open only to past and current clients this time around). This will be a fun session where we get inspired to take our businesses a step further and educate ourselves on the things we can do to get our businesses seen. If you have been a client or are wanting to get a project started with me, give me a call and I will get you on the RSVP list.

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Caring works- the new business model

I truly love Seth Godin's posts about business and marketing. He has some amazing points that all business owners can relate to in a non jargon-rich, daily blog. In his post comparing business to business marketing approaches, he discusses the old model of looking at dollar signs and profit margins versus the passion-rich model, where caring and passion make everything worthwhile. Which approach do you have? Does it help only you or does it help the greater good?

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Marketing plans- where to start

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.

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What's your business vision?

One of the first things I ask my new design clients is what is their vision for their business? This often stifles folks. Most people think that getting a logo and some marketing materials is the first and main thing needed to promote a successful small business. But how do you know who to appeal to or where to put your efforts if you don't know where you want to go/grow? In my half hour free consultations, I often ask question after question, trying to find the correct design style and direction that will match my clients' needs. If you don't have a clear vision of what you want for your business, how can you effectively appropriate money and time into marketing and advertising? If you have a plan but fail to convey it to your designer, how will they create something that appeals to your target market as well as create something that can grow with you? If you don't know where to start, then start by asking for clarity. Second, talk to a marketing firm. Third, seek help from small business development centers or business life coaches. Or, if you haven't the time or money for those and need to hire a designer anyways, find a designer that has a marketing background so you can formulate a direction and plan that works for you.

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New Year’s Resolution for your Business

Since 2010 is just around the corner and New Year’s resolutions are coming our way, how about making a resolution for your small business? The best resolution I recommend is to carve out an hour a week for marketing your business. In just that tiny hour, you can do so much to help your business grow. Making Time and Keeping a List Your first hour is going to be the hardest. Sit down, turn off the phone, and ignore incoming emails. Make this hour completely dedicated to you and your business growth. Start an ongoing list somewhere that you can easily add to, edit, delete, and FIND later. I recommend using whatever office programs you may already have, such as Mail "To-Do's" for Macs or Outlook for PCs. Or go online and use one of the many free task list websites, such as RemembertheMilk.com or TaDaLists.com. Second, decide on a regular time and day that you can reserve for marketing in your weekly routine. Use whatever calendaring program you use, create an "event," and make it repeat indefinitely. Do NOT erase this time, blow it off, or say you will do it later. Choose a time that will most likely work for you and do your best to never change it. And if you must, reschedule it for the same week. Once you have set up your routine and list, you are half way there. Your Hour What you do with your hour for marketing is up to you. However, remember that what you put it you will most likely get out. Your first month of marketing dates will be the most difficult. Use your first hour to make the list of all the things you want to do or have heard of as ideas for marketing. Your second hour will most likely be dedicated to prioritizing your list. Prioritize by things you most likely will do, have the budget for, and are most targeted to your target audience. Your third hour will be spent revising and adding to your list as well as starting the first task. The fourth hour and every hour thereafter will be spent revising your list and doing task by task. Keep in mind:

Marketing, (especially social media) is an ongoing process, not a one time event.

Focus on only one task at a time, not the entire list.

Always reassess if your efforts are directed to your target market and keep your best interests in mind.

Marketing is something that every business needs to do to grow, despite its size. Sample business plans and business development centers even recommend a mandatory ongoing marketing budget for all businesses. Having a regular routine will help you keep marketing in your sights and your business in a direction for growth. ~If you need some help getting your marketing efforts streamlined, feel free to give me a call. I've helped numerous small businesses define goals, create a distinct path, and a reasonable ongoing process that fits time and budgets.