Oprah spends money on advertising/marketing: Do you?

Oprah advertises on television. She makes sure that viewers know what channel to watch her show.  Are you letting your customers and clients know how to get in touch with you?

 Advertising/marketing must be done regardless of your budget. Below are my tips for advertising/marketing your business.

 Free

Article writing

Blogging

Social Networking

Word of mouth advertising

Speaking Engagements, (you may be paid as a speaker and actually make money)

Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce Member to Member Flyers

Internet Radio interviews

Host your own radio show

Free Business Listings on various websites

New Jacksonville-Onslow County Chamber of Commerce members get a free 8-minute interview on The Talk Station or five free advertising spots.

Host a free teleseminar

Start a newsletter using a 60-day free trial and use Merchant Circle newsletter option

 Small Fee – under $100

Networking Events

Classified Ads

Advertising space in Association or Group newsletters

DIY Brochures

DIY Business cards

DIY Rack cards

(DIY projects can end up costing more money than you anticipate due to errors you make or time you are not working with clients while you are busy designing your items)

Promotional materials such as pens, pencils, postcards, magnets, coffee mugs etc.

Guerilla Marketing

Print flyers and hand them out

Newsletter

Pay for someone to write your articles

Pay for someone to manage your social networking

 Medium Fee – $101 – $500

Newspaper advertising

The Talk Station radio advertising

Brochures designed by a professional

Business cards designed by a professional

Rack cards designed by a professional

Window graphics

Movie theatre advertising dependent upon location

Promotional materials such as pens, pencils, postcards, magnets, coffee mugs etc.

Expo fees

Coffee News

Membership fee to join various Associations

Networking registration or meal fees

Money Mailer

Banner Advertising

Pay Per Click Advertising

 High Fee – $500 or higher

Advertising in National Magazines

Car wrap

Professional Website design

Movie theatre advertising dependent upon location

Expo fees

Television advertising

Billboard

Banner Advertising

Pay Per Click Advertising

Direct mail

Telemarketing

Radio Advertising

 As you can see, there are many free or low cost ways to market or advertise your business. The lists above are just a few suggestions. Do you have a marketing plan? I want you to take out a calendar and design a 90-day plan. Write down what or how you are going to do to advertise/market your business.

 I also want you to take a hard look at your finances. Be honest and realistic. How are you going to spend your money? Design a plan incorporating the suggestions above based upon your budget. Do not be embarrassed if your 90-day calendar is filled with free or low cost ways to advertise or market your business. Only you know your budget. It is better to do something than to do nothing.

 Remember, it is your responsibility to let customers and clients know you are still in business. It is not their job to track you down to see if you are still in business.

Business Card Etiquette

Coach Jaynine’s Rules for Exchanging Business Cards

Have you gone to a meeting where someone walked around the room flinging his or her business card at everyone as if he or she was dealing a deck of cards? Did you ever wonder what to do with cards you really didn’t want to keep? So when is the right time to offer your card? I have asked myself these very same questions; which began my quest for understanding business card etiquette. My ten rules on business card etiquette are based on research and will enable you to be worry free about committing a business card etiquette faux pas at your next networking or business event.

Rule #1 – Do not deal out your business cards like you are dealing a deck of playing cards; this is rude and pushy.  You should ask for the other person’s card first which will prompt him or her to ask for your card in return or politely ask the person “May I give you my card”. 

Rule #2 – Do not give out soiled or torn cards.

Rule #3 – Present your card with the print facing up.

Rule #4 – Treat the card with respect- upon receiving a card take time to look at it and show interest; which in turn will make the person holding your card treat it with respect.

Rule #5 – Show respect to those of a higher rank or position by waiting until he or she asks for your card or a third party has introduced you.

Rule #6 – Dispose of cards you do not intend to keep discreetly. Do not reject an offer to take a card.

Rule #7 – Do not place the card in a back pocket, wallet, or bag this is considered disrespectful and shows lack of organization. Place the card in a planner, notebook, or business card case.

Rule #8 – If you hand a card to one person in a group – hand a card to everyone; do not make someone feel left out or inferior

Rule #9 – If you routinely see a person and know you have given him or her a card you do not need to give another card…just extend your hand and introduce yourself if you feel they don’t know you. People do not want to be bombarded with multiple cards.

Rule #10 – Do not hand out cards that are used i.e. writing on the back such as grocery list, phone numbers etc.

 

Coach Jaynine ensures small business owners and determined individuals turn their Dreams into Reality. She coaches small business owners on the necessary systems and strategies that are needed to turn their business into an asset instead of a liability. Her clients increase their productivity and earning power while living life on their terms. Experience what Coaching can do for you by downloading your complimentary Productivity Tracker at https//www.dreamcatcher-lifecoaching.com

 

 

Excuse me did you leave money on the table? Networking Events

Have you recently attended a networking event and left money on the table? I’m not talking about the money you left on the table as a tip for the waiter or waitress. I’m talking about your failure to have a system on what you were going to do with all those business cards you collected at the networking event.

 

When you attend a networking event your intention or goal is to leave with two fists full of business cards. Guess what, that is why everyone else is there too. If you do not have a system in place to follow up with the people you met then what was the purpose of going to the event? Networking effectively and efficiently requires a system. Using my tips below will guarantee that you do not leave money on the table after your next networking event.

 

1.  Immediate action. When you get home from the networking event immediately sit down and look at the business cards you collected and put a face to the card. Try and remember what intrigued you about that person. Jot down notes about the conversation you had and any pain points you can remember. Pain points are the issues that are causing that person grief and you can relieve or know another person that can relieve the pain.

 

2. Next day action: The day after the networking event you should send a handwritten note or an email to each person you met at the networking event.  Do not send one mass chain or spam email. Take time to begin to establish rapport with the person. Mention in your email things that you discussed with that person. Show the person you actually remember who they were. Invite the person to stay in contact with you. Do not try and sell something to the person in this first email exchange.  Immediately add the person to your email data base and your newsletter data base.  Add the business card to your rolodex. Do not let the business card get lost. 

 

3. Be selective. After your initial introduction email you will want to seriously think about the people you met that you would really like to have as a client and why or who you met that you liked and would like to add to your circle of friends. Now is the time to email an article you have written or an email link that they can use to alleviate one of their pain points. Again this is not the time to sell them something; you are still cultivating the relationship. It is ok not to want to network with someone you met. You need to be true to your values and ethical standards.

 

4. Cultivate the relationship. Networking and gathering new client leads can follow the same stages of a dating relationship. You would not propose to a person on a first or second date so don’t try and sell someone something on the first or second time of meeting them. Take time to cultivate a true relationship. Periodically, send an email just to say hello and let the person know that you are thinking of them and wishing them success.

 

5. Use your manners: When you receive an email from someone be sure you take time to acknowledge the email. Do not ignore anyone that contacts you.  This is very rude and people do not do business with rude business owners.  People do business with those they like, know, and trust.

 

I recently attended a networking event where I collected over 21 business cards and brochures. Only one person contacted me.  The rest of the people either assumed I didn’t care about makeup, flooring, clean air, office supplies, marketing my business, and advertising on the radio or they had no follow up system in place on what to do with all the business cards they had collected. They left money on the table. 

 

You must have a system in place so you know what you are going to do with all the business cards you have collected at your networking event. Implementing my five steps above into your system will guarantee that you do not get caught leaving money on the table after your next networking event.