So you need to get your business noticed? Need to to make yourself known as the go-to guy in your field? The way to get that business is to promote!
Face it. Who remembers the quiet guy in the back of the room? I mean, you may remember he was there, but do you remember his name? Or what he did for a living? Nope. Not if you were in the front, smiling and shaking hands.
If you stay quiet no one notices you. If you promote by whatever possible way you can, you get noticed. I know this seems obvious and much too simple to be useful, but this is the difference between a business that is making it and one that isn't.
As a business consultant, I've dealt with many business owners that have said everything from “business is slow” to “their industry is dead.” At the same time, for other owners business is good, with sales increasing, etc. The difference: promotion.
Now there are many factors involved in business, but you can have the best of the best and no one would know unless you told them. First and foremost, tell everyone in any way you can about your business. And then tell them why it's the best and earn their trust that it is the best.
Take the businesses that had increasing sales: They were calling past clients and rekindling the relationship, they were calling current clients and asking for more work. They had ads on inexpensive (and expensive) trade and related websites and they had their names in different types of directories and handed out their cards to whoever they met. They had websites and could be found online. They used all possible means to promote and stand out.
They were making the business.
Any promotion is better than none at all. If you're like that quiet guy in the back of the room, at least start circulating. Your first concern is to simply start getting some kind of promotion going. From there you work out how you are going to increase the quantity and better reach your target audience. Soon enough, you'll be the life of the party.
Some simple, and often easy on the bank, promotion avenues:
- Business cards. Never get caught without one. Hand them out to everyone you meet and give them to current clients so they can refer you.
- A website. Too many small businesses lose consumers because they didn't come up in a search online.
- Cold calling. It still works.
- Blogging. Have a blog for your business and comment on others.
- Writing to past and current clients. Whether by post or e-mail, just get in touch.
- A simple, regularly sent newsletter.
- Ads in print and online.
Since you're reading this, you at least are familiar with the web and know what a blog is. You're ahead of many. Social media is all the rage, but don't all together neglect the traditional promotion tricks. Get it all going, but most importantly, just get promoting.
You can never promote too much!
