Thursday, February 23, 2012

A Quick Guide To Budget Marketing

By Greg Tilley


Forget the marketing cliches - you don't necessarily need millions of dollars, Lady Gaga, Dwyane Wade, music video-style graphics or placement in the prime time programming shift. Yes, product placement can be done much easier and cheaper than that.

You don't need to squander your life savings to promote effectively. Having a personal touch is a much important factor. Some of the world's finest marketing specialists have some ideas on helping you maximize a small budget.

A Strong Press Release Helps

There are times when news reporters would do anything for a good story. Don't overwhelm reporters with complexity - a simple and concise press release can get their attention better. Be honest and connect your news item with real-life events like a new service of your business. Don't make it appear in your press release that you are trying too hard. Try asking your friends and family what they think would be the most newsworthy thing about your company. And don't forget the "R" word - Research! By surveying your customers about certain ideas, you can gather valuable information. Find out what makes them stick to your service or product.

Be Offbeat

Attract media interest by cooking up an event. A good idea would be to try breaking a record, say, creating the world's largest sushi roll, then advertising it with creative and playful language.

Add A Personal Touch With Your Face

It doesn't matter if you aren't exactly Prince Charming - if your face is on your business card, you can develop a better relationship with your potential customers. This will give people an idea about who's the person behind the name on the card.

Please Print Praise!

Written commendations from customers are a great way to convince people that your service or product does work, so try soliciting these commendations. This letter would then become part of your press kit.

Connect Through Quoted Messages

Always be on the lookout for articles that might interest your customers - photocopy the article and send it to your clients with a personalized note. Your borrowed article would kill two birds with one stone - you are connecting with your clients in a deeper way, while quoting someone with authority that you too can relate to.

Spend Money Wisely By Thinking Out Of The Box

Use your brains, and not the depth of your pockets, to get ahead of your competitors. It can be something as simple as buying a billboard advertisement on odd or even months of a year. Since the billboard won't likely be replaced the month after, you can get extra exposure for free. Be aware of what your competitors offer, and try offering these at your business - for example, a play area for kids in your restaurant.

"Old School" Strategies Can Be Helpful

Charity events such as barbecues and telethons, as well as sponsoring local sports teams, are old-school techniques that still work up to this day. This wouldn't hurt your business, and will in fact help it by making your name prominent.




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