5October 2009
Small business owners are all trying to get new business today even with the recession. It’s more difficult, but extremely important. Unfortunately advertising expenses are usually the first to go during times like these. That’s absolutely the last thing you should cut.
Small business marketing is vital when consumers are spending less. You need to be on the leading edge and have a plan for growth and development. You can’t bury your head in the sand and wait for things to get better. You need to rethink your small business marketing and make sure you get your fair share of the buyers that are still out there.
You should start by analyzing your current marketing budget. What are you spending currently? Look at everything you’re doing and determine what you’re getting for the expense. If you aren’t sure, set up a system to keep track for the next 3 months. If you’re in the service business, have your dispatcher keep track by asking callers how they found your business.
One of the least expensive and most effective ways to advertise your business is to have a website that is designed to market your business. You need to make sure that your webmaster or the person that sets up your website understands marketing. Most webmasters do not understand marketing even though they are good technically. Make sure they know how to put you on the local business sites and get links to your website.
A business coach is the best person to help you tie things together. He or she is able to look at the whole picture and give you ideas on how to market without breaking the bank. If you’d like to know more about how a small business coach can help you with the bigger picture, you can find out here=>Small Business Assessment.