Women entrepreneurs work with me as their business coach to learn easy marketing systems to grow their small business. Over the years, I have identified the seven strategies that work best to market your small business:
1. Choose a narrow niche to dominate
Your marketing efforts are simplified when you narrow your niche by focusing on a specific target audience and a specialty that's strength for you. Standing out in a small, defined niche is much easier, more effective and more profitable than being one of many in a broad market.
2. Create a powerful, self introduction
Make your self-introduction or marketing message succinct. Say in as few words as possible who you work with, what their main challenge or frustration is, and how you help them solve that problem or achieve their desired results. Then, get the word out, and ask others to spread it for you too.
3. Start a newsletter or blog
You need to get your message in front of your prospects an average of seven to nine times before they will be ready to buy from you. An email newsletter or ezine that's delivered to inboxes is one of the most effective ways to stay in touch with clients and provide value. Blogging is also a good strategy to demonstrate your expertise and get into dialogue with prospects and clients.
4. Write articles to demonstrate your expertise
Marketing with articles will help you stand out and get noticed. Writing and promoting articles that showcase your wisdom and experience can give you lots of free publicity for your business. Write about the latest trends, have an opinion, and take a stand. Let your personality shine through.
5. Offer free talks and small scale seminars
Small seminars are one of the best ways to grow your business and get referrals. Put on your own free talks and paid seminars, or offer them through any of the many organizations looking for speakers that can put you in front of your ideal clients.
6. Expand your network
You need a large network to grow a small business. Develop strategic alliances and ask others to help get the word out for you. Leverage the power of your connections to promote your business.
7. Rewrite your website or blog to focus on keywords
If you don't use targeted keywords at your website or blog, people will never find you through the search engines. Find out which words potential customers are searching on, and sprinkle those words throughout your website copy and your articles.
Take action one at least one of these items, and watch your business grow!
