Top 7 Tips for New Businesses
The marketing decisions you make for your new business are the most important part of making your business a success. Marketing is about building a strong presence, name recognition and credibility through various methods. Here are 7 things you can do to get a new business off the ground.All of the time and money you invest in getting your business off the ground is wasted if you don't make the additional efforts and expenditures to market effectively. Marketing is the process and procedures that get your name out to the public. Your advertising is only a part of marketing.
You should have a plan for at least the first year of operations on a monthly basis. With a new business, your marketing is about building a presence, name recognition, status and reputation through a variety methods.1. Have a Written Business Plan: Having your business plan in order allows you to see a very clear path to where you want your business to go. There are many resources available on the internet to guide you in this process, but basically, your business plan should include: Business Description, Key Initiatives and Objectives, Marketing Strategy and Budget, Business Overview, Location and Facilities, Description of Products and Services, Industry Overview & Outlook, Regulatory Issues Related to Your Industry, Implementation Plan and a Financial Plan.2. Begin Your Business Branding Immediately: Have business cards, a logo, letterhead, brochure, signage and collateral materials professionally designed and printed.
It will be worth the investment as your first steps towards building your business's image. Steer clear of "do it yourself" products that can be found in most office supply stores. Although it may seem cost effective for a new business, the real cost comes in the toll it will take on your company's image. For more advice on Business Branding go to: http://maremaxconsulting.com/brandingtips.html3. Get a Business Website.
In today's marketplace, a business without a website is like a house without a front door. If you don't have one, you're missing out on a very big opportunity to drive business directly to you. Have your website professionally written and designed. Make sure it is an extension of your advertising and print materials. Your branding has to extend and flourish on your home page.
Prospective clients should be able to utilize your site for more information than what is already available to them through your brochure, print ads, and other collateral materials. Update your website often and give people a reason to return again and again.4. Advertise with Consistency. One of the most powerful keys to successful advertising is frequency. A smaller ad that you run 10 times will generate much more presence that an ad 10 times the size you can only afford to run once.
Start with local or regional newspapers or magazines, and set up an ongoing plan that will allow you to build your presence. Your advertising message has to speak to the consumer's needs and most importantly give them a solid reason to call you. But, more importantly, the message needs to in front of them on a regular, consistent basis. Always be sure to use your web address in all of your advertising.5. Get Your Business Publicized:? Send a press release to all local newspapers and magazines in your area announcing the opening of your new business, plans for Grand Opening, and services offered.
Keep your press releases short, double-spaced, and error free.? Write letters to the editor and/or send out press releases on a consistent basis that include a professional photo that is captioned (readers are much more likely to view a photo if there is a caption to read). If you, as a business owner, do something new, such as receive an award, appoint someone in your business to a new position, join a board or professional organization or offer your services to a non-profit organization, be sure to get all the mileage you can out of it by using it as a tool to communicate with the press. If you can plan your marketing budget to include a few professionally written and placed press releases, especially in the beginning, all the better.? Also consider writing and submitting articles to editors of related business journals and local publications. They are often looking for articles from local businesses. You'll get your name print, as a credible source, which has a lot more standing than any ad you can purchase in the same publication.6.
Network - Network - Network! Face-to-face networking is one of your best sources of advertising. Be sure to take advantage of every connection opportunity you can. Getting involved will get your business name out there. Become a member of the Chamber of Commerce and be an active participant. Joining a committee, going to meetings, networking breakfasts, and special events extends the opportunities to interact with prospective clients.
Volunteer to join a local arts council, charity board, or school board. You're not only servicing your community, you're putting yourself and your business out in front of the public.7. Assess and Redirect Along the Way. Just because you have a written business plan doesn't mean you should shut your eyes to anything but what you have written. After several months of being fully operational, if you find your business is taking off in one area more then another, you may have stumbled onto a genuine need that wasn't being filled.
Go with it! Assess and redirect. If you find your newspaper advertising is pulling more than your direct mail campaign it may be time to adjust the advertising budget. First, be very sure you're not being too quick to judge. Some areas of business take longer to cultivate than others. Just as some advertising will adjust according to season, campaign, and frequency..
Mary Ellen Martelli is President of MareMax Consulting, a full service Advertising, Marketing & Website Consulting firm, located in the Southern New Jersey / Philadelphia area. You can reach her at her website: http://maremaxconsulting.com/maremaxconsulting@comcast.netThe Number One Reason Most Websites Fail
Failure, just like success, is measured differently by each and every one of us. What one man treats as success another may view as failure. For the purposes of this article a website that fails is one that fails to attract and convert enough targeted visitors into paying customers. Yeah - positive feedback from your website visitors is great but let's face it - we're all in this ultimately to make more money. Websites do fail.
Lots of them fail. You will see many of them every day. Some of them fail to inspire or enthuse. Some fail to get found at all. Some fail to get completed.
Some fail to understand the needs of the people visiting them. But there is an underlying common reason for all these failings.. "A Website? Yeah - We Got One Of Those Three Years Ago"I guarantee you will have heard something similar to this statement before. Some people take the viewpoint that a website is something that gets done, the box gets ticked and that's it taken care of. They get a website...
The Number One Reason Most Websites Fail
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Bureaucracy in Peru!
This article is from the pen of a New Zealander currently living in Lima, Peru.I have never experienced anything like this!This is not the first developing country I have ever lived in, The situation here is chaotic and that is being kind!Lesson # 1. In Peru you must wait, don't expect anything in a hurry!You will wait in line to enter the Hospital to visit your loved-ones, make sure you have the required documents that the hospital security demands or you will be refused entry.
I have seen first hand a man in a wheelchair turn up for treatment only to be refused entry.
The man's relative had to go to the security station and summon a hospital nurse to persuade the officer to allow entry for treatment! Lesson # 2. In Peru you must accept the word No!Lets go to the Italian Institute of Culture.
It's 7:30am Monday Morning and you are in the line.
You are number 12 by your calculation, that's good as there are only twenty tickets given out!
A...
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Speedline Technologies Reports Highest Bookings Since 2000; Backlog Up 68% Over Previous Quarter -- New Product Introductions and Process Expertise Support Surge
FRANKLIN, MA (ContentDesk) August 24, 2005 -- Speedline Technologies, Inc., today reported that its bookings during the second quarter of 2005 rose 44% over the first quarter and in July reached their highest level since 2000.
At the end of July, the backlog had climbed 68% versus the end of the first quarter.
"We've witnessed a major upturn in business since April as large customers increased capital equipment spending to respond to growth in the consumer electronics and automotive industries," said Pierre de Villemejane, president and chief executive officer (CEO), Speedline Technologies.
"The market has enthusiastically responded to the introductions of our new MPM AccelaTM printer and Camalot XyflexPro? + dispenser with strong order rates."In addition, de Villemejane said the trend toward lead-free manufacturing drove healthy global demand for new capital equipment.
"Our process expertise in lead-free technology helped support higher bookings for...
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Dating Coach uses Corporate Marketing Strategies to Help Singles
(ContentDesk) January 4, 2006 -- How can singles attract their Perfect Match in 2006? Liz Kelly, Dating Coach and Author, shares proven marketing strategies for singles in the hot new release of Smart Man Hunting (Kensington, January 2006). With over 100 million singles in the US, and 50 million dating online, we're actually living in the best time to date and find a mate, says Kelly. Smart Man Hunting is about positioning yourself for dating success. Based on Liz's corporate background in marketing, she is helping singles define their key selling points, pass a 60-second screening test and target market their type. She offers Smart Dating Services such as Profile Makeovers, online photo critiques, one-on-one consultations, and a new audio CD, "How to Find Love Online." Smart Man Hunting's Marketing Strategies1.
Define Brand U - Define your Key Selling Points2. Add Sex Appeal to your Style - Pass a 60-Second Screening Test3. Target Market your Type - Attract the Dates You Desire...
Dating Coach uses Corporate Marketing Strategies to Help Singles
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