PrintA sales and marketing plan is crucial to any business, but a home-based business especially needs a to-do list of ways to market it cost-effectively.
While making your list, remember to define your target audience, learn what your competition is offering and at what prices, look for ways to add value to your sales by offering additional services, and find a competitive edge.
These tips will help you build your list of cost-effective ways to market your business:
- Make networking your top priority: Since you probably won't have walk-in business, and advertising can be costly, you need to have business cards to distribute wherever you go. Network in your community, join community organizations, and always be marketing yourself as much as you can.
- Use online social networking: Chances are if you have a home business you're building an online presence. One of the best ways to market yourself online is to join social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to get the word out about your business. Post often and collect a lot of friends and fans.
- Create and manage your contact list: Update your contacts regularly. Keep the information on your mobile device so it's always available, and interact with your key contacts regularly. Don't forget you can upload your e-mail contacts to Facebook and Twitter to find out which ones are social networkers.
- Follow up: Following up is key to turning networking into sales. Create a reason to contact a potential customer again. Perhaps you have the answer to a question that person asked at a previous meeting. Follow up with a call, an e-mail, or a note. Use social networking effectively to follow up with satisfied customers or to quickly address any concerns.
- Build your identity: Online promotion may make letterhead, fax cover sheets, newsletters, and other print marketing materials seem a little outdated, but they do come in handy. Have a supply of these items available, and create a consistent look and a memorable logo. A good tagline or catch phrase can also be a plus. Use the same logo on social networking sites to build your brand.
- Be an expert: Offer columns to local newspapers, contact local radio stations and cable TV channels, as well as schools and universities. Get to know producers, editors, and anyone in position to use an expert in your field. And offer yourself as that expert for speaking engagements or guest segments. You need to keep you and your business in front of as many people as possible to gain the biggest following.