# data[].attributes.body
Build business partnerships with other organizations. In effect, piggyback off the success of another business. Taco Bell has recently unveiled the Doritos Locos Taco, which is a branding coup for both Taco Bell and Doritos. Whenever you think of one brand, the other brand comes to mind, and vice versa. Business partnerships can be very effective advertising tools. basically build friendships with other brands so your brand can be  revealed to the public because they're brand might already be big.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you have your own business, it's important to promote your brand in order to attract new clients. Focus on a few simple strategies to help you get the word out there about your company. Create a brand image, or logo. Widespread brand...

# data[].attributes.body
Not only do potential customers love great content, but so does Google. There are many ways to share information -- blogging, creating videos, hosting podcasts, designing infographics or submitting articles to online authority sites. Not only do you gain authority as an expert, but you also get free traffic. You can also offer to be a guest blogger for another complementary website or be interviewed on a podcast.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Image credit: rwdkr | Getty Images

6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

According to HubSpot, the third top marketing challenge for companies is the lack of budgeting resources. Unless you are a startup with venture or angel capital, you probably have a limited marketing budget. Here some ways you can market your business on a limited budget.

1. Go guerilla.

Guerilla marketing looks to leverage creativity, imagination and originality in place of a big budget. Smart small businesses with a limited budget often use guerilla marketing to compete with huge companies. There is no shortage of creative guerilla marketing ideas. Here are just a few examples:

If you have a brick and mortar location, pay someone to create eye-catching art with chalk.

If you sell a product that can be used on the street, employ undercover agents to promote your product directly to potential customers. For example, Sony hired agents to ask strangers to take photos of them and then raved about their camera.

Organize a flash mob to garner crowd attention and promote awareness of your brand.

Related: How to Be Like Banksy and Reap Massive Exposure Through Guerilla Marketing
2. Socialize on social media.

According to the Pew Research Center Report of Social Media Usage: 2005-2015, nearly two-thirds of American adults use social media now. This is a near tenfold increase within the last decade.

Popular social media channels include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Snapchat. Each of these social media platforms are unique in its own right and require unique ways of engagement. Rather than try to master it all at once, choose a few you like and try to master those first.

3. Create valuable content.

Not only do potential customers love great content, but so does Google. There are many ways to share information -- blogging, creating videos, hosting podcasts, designing infographics or submitting articles to online authority sites. Not only do you gain authority as an expert, but you also get free traffic. You can also offer to be a guest blogger for another complementary website or be interviewed on a podcast.

You don't always have to produce the content yourself. You can hire freelance writers, graphic designers and personal assistants through websites like Upwork. If you run out of ideas, you can repurpose old content and give it a new spin.

4. Contests and giveaways.

Everyone loves free gifts! Give away desirable or fun items to gain goodwill, build brand awareness and connect with potential customers. They don't need to be expensive. Things such as online ebooks, white papers and checklists don't cost you anything but your time.

You can also promote your products through Facebook groups where members agree to try your product for free or a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. Physical gifts with your advertising on it such as balloons, smartphone wipes, key chains, fridge magnets, pens and notepads are always popular too.

You can also create a viral marketing effect by making your marketing interesting, attractive and fun. One of the craziest marketing efforts that went viral is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. People dared their friends and family to pour ice cold water on themselves within 24 hours. Those who failed to do so would then have to donate to the ALS charity.

5. Piggyback your partners.

When you are a small business with a limited marketing budget, it makes sense to partner with other complementary businesses. These can include manufacturers, suppliers and vendors. Not only do you both win when your businesses succeed, but there is added credibility when another business recommends you.
Related: The Ultimate Networking Guide: 4 Ways to Expand Your Network
As an example, you can exchange customer lists and offer to pay the business a commission for every sale you make. Just make sure that you have requested permission from your customers to share their details!

For direct mail marketing, offer to share postage costs and include your flyer with the other businesses' mail. If the other business has a physical retail space, ask to put your business cards in their customer waiting area.

You can also seek partners within your existing customer base. Create a referral rewards program where you reward your customers for referring business to you. Word of mouth is extremely effective when it comes to marketing.

6. Leverage scalable advertising channels.

Conventional advertising mediums such as TV, radio and newspaper ads can be extremely costly and hard to measure effectiveness, but online advertising can be cheaper and more targeted. Popular options are Google Pay Per Click ads and Facebook ads. Also, don't forget to list your business in free online directories like Google Business for Google Maps and Yelp.

You also can promote your latest products and services through these free or cost effective methods:

A telephone message that plays your promotions while customers are on hold.

Window decals advertising your latest offer if you have a retail shop.

Car magnets and bumper stickers displaying your advertising while you drive around town.

Advertising on email signatures or letterheads.

Sending special holiday discounts, birthday coupons and surprise rewards to your mailing list.

7. Milk the media.

Getting your business featured by the media is free marketing. To capture the attention of the media, try these and invite the media to come and cover it.

Create a publicity stunt. Think of some of the crazy ones that Richard Branson has pulled off including dressing as a female flight attendant onboard his airline.

Do something for the community, and send out a press release prior to the event. For example, some innovative hair dressers have offered free haircuts to the homeless.

Sponsor an event by donating your products or services as giveaways or prizes or host a contest.

Nominate yourself for a business contest or award. If you win, even better!

You can also seek opportunities to be interviewed for print, radio and TV. To look for opportunities to contribute your expertise, sign up to an email list like Help A Reporter Out.
Related Book: Market Like You Mean It by Al Lautenslager
8. Help yourself by helping others.

All your marketing should be of some use to your audience. There are many ways that you can make your marketing efforts a welcome intrusion rather than an annoyance to your audience. Try these:

Provide useful information. Information marketing has proven to be highly effective in increasing sales. By educating your audience on problems that they care about, you are also not only growing your customer base but also positioning yourself as the solution. To do this, host a Meetup group, an event, a class or even an online webinar. Offer to speak at events.

Provide assistance. Answer questions posted on forums and websites like Quora and direct your audience to your website for more information. There are online directories that list a whole variety of forums such as Find A Forum.Net.

Entertain your audience. Make them laugh or cry. Think of the funny and touching ads that you see and how quickly they are shared.

Marketing your business on a limited budget is completely possible. You just need to get creative and think out of the box.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Powerful Ways to Market Your Business on a Limited Budget

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
6 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. According to HubSpot, the third top marketing challenge for companies is the lack of budgeting resources. Unless you are a startup with venture or angel capital, you probably have a limited marketing budget. Here some ways you can market your business on a limited budget.

# data[].attributes.body
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. If you want to have your videos rank highly, you need to properly optimize your video title and description.

Your title needs to be catchy, but it also needs to contain the keywords that you want to rank for. Similar to how text-based content works, videos with catchy a thumbnail and title often tend to rank higher even if they don’t have the best content.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
According to Socialbakers, 4 in 5 millennials view video content when researching a purchase decision. No wonder video marketing is on the rise; every marketer I talk with has it as one of their primary focuses as they plan for 2018.

While Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, and even LinkedIn are rolling out video features, nothing beats YouTube, where we spend a billion hours every day watching videos. If you want to leverage the power of the world's second largest search engine and grow your YouTube channel in 2018, read on.

I sat down with Syed Balkhi, a renowned online marketer famous for his work on the conversion software, OptinMonster. Syed is also the founder of a popular edutainment website and YouTube channel, List25, which has over 2.2 million subscribers and his videos have been viewed over 550 million times.

Since starting the site in 2011, he has only appeared in a total of 3 videos. Instead of being the face of the brand, he works behind the scenes, guiding his team's YouTube optimization strategy, to maximize views and channel growth.

I asked him to share his top 8 optimization tips for growing a YouTube channel in 2018.
1. Create videos based on a single topic / keyword
While it sounds obvious, you'd be surprised how many people completely ignore this basic principle. Similar to a blog post, when you're planning your video, you need to identify the keywords that you want to target.

You can use tools like KeywordTool.io to see the most searched keywords in your niche.

The reason why it's important to pick a keyword before you create your video is because it allows you to better plan your content. You can search your keyword in YouTube to see what kinds of videos are ranking highly, and what makes them stand out.

In your research phase, your goal is to create the most comprehensive video about your chosen topic. According to Balkhi, the ideal video length is around 8 - 12 minutes long.

The other reason why you need to pick your keyword before recording the video is so you can incorporate it in your video script. Having your keyword repeated multiple times in your audio script helps your ranking on YouTube search. Because YouTube automatically attempts to add closed captions, we know the algorithm technically can read through your entire audio script - and likely uses it as a factor when calculating relevance for a given keyword search.
2. Optimize your title and description
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. If you want to have your videos rank highly, you need to properly optimize your video title and description.

Your title needs to be catchy, but it also needs to contain the keywords that you want to rank for. "One of the things we have found is that placing our keywords at the beginning of our video title helps boost our ranking," says Balkhi. "Same goes for your video description. Often, people don't do a good enough job in writing their description. You need to treat your video description like a summary blog post that you would write if you were to embed this video on your site."

Balkhi advises that you should add your keywords in the first two sentences, but not try to game the system. Stuffing keywords in your description can get your channel penalized, just as stuffing keywords in content on a website can trigger a Penguin or Panda penalty.

Writing an outline or transcript of your video content in the description of the video can go a long way in helping boost your video's rankings.

Last but not least, make sure that you're adding relevant tags to each of your videos. Balkhi recommends using a tool like TubeBuddy for tag recommendation.
3. Win the CTR battle with great thumbnails
Similar to how text-based content works, videos with catchy a thumbnail and title often tend to rank higher even if they don't have the best content.

The secret is similar to Google search: these videos win the click-through-rate (CTR) battle. In other words, Google seems to be calculating CTR as a ranking factor, which has been a subject of much debate in the SEO industry lately.

"In our experience, the best way to get maximum click-through rate, aside from a catchy title, is to use an attention-grabbing thumbnail. Some examples of catchy thumbnails that I have seen work include thumbnails with large text, highlighted / magnified areas, arrows pointing towards something in the image, and things that are just completely unexpected or unusual," says Balkhi.
4. Leverage YouTube cards to boost engagement and reduce abandonment
YouTube rewards channels that have longer average watch times, which makes sense, because the longer someone stays on your channel, the longer they're staying on YouTube (and the more ad revenue YouTube can earn from that user).

In your YouTube video analytics, you'll see the exact point where users tend to abandon your video. Since the goal is to increase time spent on your channel, Balkhi recommends using YouTube cards to add recommended videos at the exact point where users are leaving.

This allows users to potentially check out your other videos and stay on your channel. The engagement on your channel works similar to domain authority in Google; it plays a huge role in your videos' ranking.
5. Leverage playlist URLs to increase time spent on your channel
When your video ends, YouTube generally shows a list of recommended videos for the user to watch next. Some of these videos are yours, and others belong to different channels.

One of the best ways to keep users on your channel, according to Balkhi, is by using well-crafted playlists. When a user starts watching a video through your playlist, YouTube auto-queues the next video in that playlist, which can keep users glued to your channel.

A little-known secret about playlists is that you can trigger them from anywhere with a special URL.

You have likely seen YouTubers add related video cards at the end of each video. Instead of just adding the video link, Balkhi recommends directing the user to a playlist instead.

To do this, all you have to do is add &list=ID at the end of the URL.

For example: your normal video URL looks like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkxeqomggF4

You need to modify it and add the playlist ID like so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkxeqomggF4&list=PL3Ikn3SKdJHh3ydUUZpusjBVgt3PTPmeH

When the user clicks on the second link, they will be taken to the YouTube playlist player, where it'll be set to autoplay the next video from your channel's playlist, rather than someone else's video.
6. Encourage discussion and engage with your audience in YouTube comments
YouTube rewards channels with high engagement. This includes things like watch time and overall time spent on a channel.

It also includes things like your like / dislike ratio, and most importantly, the comments on your video.

It's extremely important to engage with your users in the comments section. Try to respond to every comment you get; not only will this help your video engagement, it'll help you mold your community as you see fit. Also, the more engaged a specific user is with your channel, the higher the likelihood that your videos will make it into their emails and notifications.
7. Keep your related channels on
"One of the biggest mistakes I see business channels make is that they turn off the 'related channels' feature on YouTube. When I have chatted with business owners, the reasoning I get is that they're afraid their competitor will show up as related channels," says Balkhi.

"But the odds are that if someone is searching your videos on YouTube, they're also looking at your competitors. By turning off 'related channels', you also remove yourself from YouTube recommendations. This means that you lose the network effect which makes YouTube as powerful as it is."
8. Add sub confirmation to all your YouTube links
When sharing YouTube links on your website, too often businesses just link straight to their YouTube channel.

Something like this: https://youtube.com/list25

While it's good to link to your YouTube channel from outside of YouTube, it's way better if you use the sub_confirmation link. It looks like this:

https://www.youtube.com/user/list25?sub_confirmation=1

When a user clicks on the second link above, the first thing they'll see on YouTube is a popup asking them to subscribe to your channel. Go ahead and try it now.

This is one of the lowest hanging fruits that you can implement today on your website and anywhere else you link to your YouTube channel (such as your social media channels) to immediately start seeing more subscribers. After all, if you want someone to do something, you have to ask them to do it. This is a simple way to ask every user who clicks one of your YouTube links to subscribe to your channel.

There you have it. These 8 tips are the keys that have helped Syed make List25 into one of the top 2000 channels on the entire YouTube network; an impressive feat. Use these tips, along with these 50 Free Ways To Grow Your YouTube Channel Subscribers and Views, to grow your YouTube channel and video content marketing initiative faster than ever in 2018.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Secrets To Grow Your YouTube Channel In 2018 From A YouTuber With Over 550 Million Video Views

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
According to Socialbakers, 4 in 5 millennials view video content when researching a purchase decision. No wonder video marketing is on the rise; every marketer I talk with has it as one of their primary focuses as they plan for 2018.

# data[].attributes.body
Put your customers first. Understanding who your customers are, what makes them tick and what they really want and value, and of course staying in touch with them long after the sale, puts you ahead of the competition.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Marketing Your Small Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Being smart with marketing ensures the success of your business by attracting more customers, and keeping them coming back. Small business is the backbone of Australian and New Zealand local economies - and you know you need to look after your back! Whether you own a bakery or a finance business, you need no-nonsense marketing strategies to secure a greater share of the market. Empower yourself to apply clever marketing plans and ideas without breaking the bank, or your back.

Making Marketing Work in Your Small Business

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to be a good marketer. But neither is there a silver bullet or one-size-fits-all solution. Every small business is different - the marketing plan and tactics for a mortgage broker are entirely different from those of a computer reseller. However, the process of building a plan, sticking to it and applying the time and resources it needs is the common secret to success in marketing.

Here are few tips to help you be brilliant at marketing:

Get the know-how. Knowing w hat not to do when it comes to marketing is as important as knowing what to do. Let's face it, the murky world of marketing can be tricky to navigate. So get the full know-how before you go jumping into building that flash website.

Put your customers first. Understanding who your customers are, what makes them tick and what they really want and value, and of course staying in touch with them long after the sale, puts you ahead of the competition.

Know your target market. 'Anyone who is breathing' is not a target market! Targeting your marketing activities fairly and squarely at the people who need and want your service or product is the secret to creating quality enquiries and getting prospects to open their wallet.

Understand that marketing is not advertising. Don't make the mistake of thinking that advertising and websites are the only two ways to attract more business. You can market your small business in literally hundreds of ways, so it pays to know what they are and then eliminate the ones that won't work, or that you can't afford, up-front.

Set sales goals and targets. Marketing really is a numbers game. Marketing efforts that won't directly or indirectly bring in new business have absolutely no point. Know what your goals are in terms of revenue, expenses, profit, number of enquiries and, of course, number of new sales.

Get a handle on the four Ps of marketing. Getting your product, pricing, placement strategy (distribution) and promotional strategy humming along and working together is crucial to good marketing.

Essential Tools for Good Business Marketing

If you're armed with the marketing essentials you can't help but succeed in attracting new prospects and bringing in more business. Spend some time on getting your marketing toolkit in place and be prepared at all times.

Here are a few items to pack into your marketing toolkit:

A plan and a budget: Getting a plan that will support you for years to come is essential to keep you on track. It doesn't need to be as thick as War and Peace, but it does need to be written down, clearly communicated to your team and acted on day by day - even when business is booming.

A great product or service: Advertising your business has no point if the customers don't want, value or love what you have to offer. Make sure you do your research and listen to your customers before sending your product out to the market.

A professional brand: A brand is much more than a logo. It encompasses everything people see, hear, think and feel about your business. Invest up-front in developing a brand that stands out from the crowd. It'll save you money and heartache in the long run.

Powerful marketing materials: Your business card, sales brochures, sales letters, website, signage, uniforms and car decal speak volumes about your business. Make sure they look professional and appealing at all times.

An elevator pitch: In the course of marketing your business you'll get asked thousands of times 'What do you do?' Don't make the mistake of boring the poor person who asked the question. Make sure you have a fun, interesting and memorable pitch ready at all times - and be able to deliver it in the time it takes to travel a few floors in an elevator.

A brilliant website: Your website must attract attention and give value to those who visit. Use it as a tool to retain and keep in touch with existing customers as well as for enticing new customers. The online world can be very scary to many small-business owners, but, if you don't embrace it, you may find yourself out of business.

A simple database: The backbone of all good marketing is about building a solid database of past, present and future customers (prospects) so you can keep in touch and communicate regularly via e-newsletters, emails and phone.

Clever Ideas to Market Your Small Business

You don't need to spend buckets of money on marketing. Creativity and a bit of gumption to do something different from everyone else in the market can be the difference between business success and business failure. Here are just a few of hundreds of ideas to market your business:

Attend networking events. It's not what you know, but who you know. Get out there and network - meet and greet. You can never have too many friends in life, even if they don't end up as customers.

Sponsor a local event or charity. It really does make you feel good to support your community, and everyone benefits - you, your staff, your customers, the people you sponsor and, of course, the community at large.

Manage your public relations. Getting your name up in lights on TV and radio, and in newspapers and magazines isn't as hard as you think - if you've got a story worth telling!

Use social media. Using social-networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, producing your own videos for YouTube or writing your own blog are creative methods of letting people know about you and your business. Go on, have a bit of fun.

Host seminars and events. Hosting your own events and inviting along your best customers and some of their friends is a great way to get to know people, connect at a personal level and build deep relationships.

Become a public speaker. If speaking isn't your number-one fear after death, hone your skills and become a great and entertaining speaker. It's a fabulous way to demonstrate your expertise and generate new business enquiries from the audience.

Top Marketing Tips for Businesses on a Low Budget

Most small-business owners, especially those starting out, don't have lots of money to spend on marketing. While the old adage - you need to spend money to make money - is true, you can still generate new business without having to dole out big bucks. Try a few of these tactics for a start:

Focus on relationship-building marketing strategies such as networking, building alliances with other businesses, and calling old customers, friends and people you once worked with.

Find people who are prepared to help you with marketing on a commission basis or a uni student who's studying marketing and might need some hands-on experience.

Develop a marketing mastermind group with other small-business owners for the purpose of sharing low-cost marketing ideas and referring each other business.

Sharpen your own online marketing skills and learn how to use Google AdWords and write blogs, and market yourself on the social media sites.

Promote your business on free online directories and publish your articles on other websites with links to your site.

Don't jump straight into low-cost (or no-cost) tactics without getting the basics right first - plan your marketing strategy, understand your target market and polish up your product.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Marketing Your Small Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet - dummies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Being smart with marketing ensures the success of your business by attracting more customers, and keeping them coming back. Small business is the backbone of Australian and New Zealand local economies - and you know you need to look after your back! Whether you own a bakery or a finance business, you need no-nonsense marketing ...

# data[].attributes.body
Set sales goals and targets. Marketing really is a numbers game. Marketing efforts that won’t directly or indirectly bring in new business have absolutely no point. Know what your goals are in terms of revenue, expenses, profit, number of enquiries and, of course, number of new sales.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Marketing Your Small Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Being smart with marketing ensures the success of your business by attracting more customers, and keeping them coming back. Small business is the backbone of Australian and New Zealand local economies - and you know you need to look after your back! Whether you own a bakery or a finance business, you need no-nonsense marketing strategies to secure a greater share of the market. Empower yourself to apply clever marketing plans and ideas without breaking the bank, or your back.

Making Marketing Work in Your Small Business

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to be a good marketer. But neither is there a silver bullet or one-size-fits-all solution. Every small business is different - the marketing plan and tactics for a mortgage broker are entirely different from those of a computer reseller. However, the process of building a plan, sticking to it and applying the time and resources it needs is the common secret to success in marketing.

Here are few tips to help you be brilliant at marketing:

Get the know-how. Knowing w hat not to do when it comes to marketing is as important as knowing what to do. Let's face it, the murky world of marketing can be tricky to navigate. So get the full know-how before you go jumping into building that flash website.

Put your customers first. Understanding who your customers are, what makes them tick and what they really want and value, and of course staying in touch with them long after the sale, puts you ahead of the competition.

Know your target market. 'Anyone who is breathing' is not a target market! Targeting your marketing activities fairly and squarely at the people who need and want your service or product is the secret to creating quality enquiries and getting prospects to open their wallet.

Understand that marketing is not advertising. Don't make the mistake of thinking that advertising and websites are the only two ways to attract more business. You can market your small business in literally hundreds of ways, so it pays to know what they are and then eliminate the ones that won't work, or that you can't afford, up-front.

Set sales goals and targets. Marketing really is a numbers game. Marketing efforts that won't directly or indirectly bring in new business have absolutely no point. Know what your goals are in terms of revenue, expenses, profit, number of enquiries and, of course, number of new sales.

Get a handle on the four Ps of marketing. Getting your product, pricing, placement strategy (distribution) and promotional strategy humming along and working together is crucial to good marketing.

Essential Tools for Good Business Marketing

If you're armed with the marketing essentials you can't help but succeed in attracting new prospects and bringing in more business. Spend some time on getting your marketing toolkit in place and be prepared at all times.

Here are a few items to pack into your marketing toolkit:

A plan and a budget: Getting a plan that will support you for years to come is essential to keep you on track. It doesn't need to be as thick as War and Peace, but it does need to be written down, clearly communicated to your team and acted on day by day - even when business is booming.

A great product or service: Advertising your business has no point if the customers don't want, value or love what you have to offer. Make sure you do your research and listen to your customers before sending your product out to the market.

A professional brand: A brand is much more than a logo. It encompasses everything people see, hear, think and feel about your business. Invest up-front in developing a brand that stands out from the crowd. It'll save you money and heartache in the long run.

Powerful marketing materials: Your business card, sales brochures, sales letters, website, signage, uniforms and car decal speak volumes about your business. Make sure they look professional and appealing at all times.

An elevator pitch: In the course of marketing your business you'll get asked thousands of times 'What do you do?' Don't make the mistake of boring the poor person who asked the question. Make sure you have a fun, interesting and memorable pitch ready at all times - and be able to deliver it in the time it takes to travel a few floors in an elevator.

A brilliant website: Your website must attract attention and give value to those who visit. Use it as a tool to retain and keep in touch with existing customers as well as for enticing new customers. The online world can be very scary to many small-business owners, but, if you don't embrace it, you may find yourself out of business.

A simple database: The backbone of all good marketing is about building a solid database of past, present and future customers (prospects) so you can keep in touch and communicate regularly via e-newsletters, emails and phone.

Clever Ideas to Market Your Small Business

You don't need to spend buckets of money on marketing. Creativity and a bit of gumption to do something different from everyone else in the market can be the difference between business success and business failure. Here are just a few of hundreds of ideas to market your business:

Attend networking events. It's not what you know, but who you know. Get out there and network - meet and greet. You can never have too many friends in life, even if they don't end up as customers.

Sponsor a local event or charity. It really does make you feel good to support your community, and everyone benefits - you, your staff, your customers, the people you sponsor and, of course, the community at large.

Manage your public relations. Getting your name up in lights on TV and radio, and in newspapers and magazines isn't as hard as you think - if you've got a story worth telling!

Use social media. Using social-networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, producing your own videos for YouTube or writing your own blog are creative methods of letting people know about you and your business. Go on, have a bit of fun.

Host seminars and events. Hosting your own events and inviting along your best customers and some of their friends is a great way to get to know people, connect at a personal level and build deep relationships.

Become a public speaker. If speaking isn't your number-one fear after death, hone your skills and become a great and entertaining speaker. It's a fabulous way to demonstrate your expertise and generate new business enquiries from the audience.

Top Marketing Tips for Businesses on a Low Budget

Most small-business owners, especially those starting out, don't have lots of money to spend on marketing. While the old adage - you need to spend money to make money - is true, you can still generate new business without having to dole out big bucks. Try a few of these tactics for a start:

Focus on relationship-building marketing strategies such as networking, building alliances with other businesses, and calling old customers, friends and people you once worked with.

Find people who are prepared to help you with marketing on a commission basis or a uni student who's studying marketing and might need some hands-on experience.

Develop a marketing mastermind group with other small-business owners for the purpose of sharing low-cost marketing ideas and referring each other business.

Sharpen your own online marketing skills and learn how to use Google AdWords and write blogs, and market yourself on the social media sites.

Promote your business on free online directories and publish your articles on other websites with links to your site.

Don't jump straight into low-cost (or no-cost) tactics without getting the basics right first - plan your marketing strategy, understand your target market and polish up your product.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Marketing Your Small Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet - dummies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Being smart with marketing ensures the success of your business by attracting more customers, and keeping them coming back. Small business is the backbone of Australian and New Zealand local economies - and you know you need to look after your back! Whether you own a bakery or a finance business, you need no-nonsense marketing ...

# data[].attributes.body
Blog is an excellent marketing tool for businesses. It takes time to establish your blog but the results are well worth the effort. To get most out of your blog, you will need to set aside some time every week to write quality content. The benefits of a blog increase manifold as you increase your publishing frequency. Studies show that businesses that blog regularly are more than two times as likely to generate leads via their website as businesses that don't. It also builds trust in your business.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How to market effectively is one of the biggest challenges faced by small businesses and entrepreneurs today. There are many marketing techniques that can be used, and choosing the right approach for your business is not easy. Small businesses also have limited budget to use on marketing which makes it even more challenging.

A good marketing strategy is a very valuable tool for any business. In order for your business to be successful, it is essential for people know about your brand as well as the products and services you offer. This is where a good online marketing strategy can help.

In this two-part article, we will take a look at some of the most effective strategies to market your small business. These will help to increase your reach and improve the visibility of your business in front of your targeted audience.

Here is the first part of "35 effective strategies to market your small business effectively". The remaining points will be covered in part two of the article.

1. Make Sure Your Website Can Deliver Results

An attractive website can make your business look professional. But the real benefits will depend on functionality and ability to acquire customers for your business. If your website is outdated, consider a redesign.

If you cannot afford bespoke web design, you can take advantage of other affordable website services to get your business online fast and cost effectively. One such service that I have used before and recommend is smallbusinessecommerce.co.uk. They offer ready-made website templates with lead-generation features, free logo, web-hosting and set-up.

2. Make Blogging a High Priority

Blog is an excellent marketing tool for businesses. It takes time to establish your blog but the results are well worth the effort. To get most out of your blog, you will need to set aside some time every week to write quality content. The benefits of a blog increase manifold as you increase your publishing frequency. Studies show that businesses that blog regularly are more than two times as likely to generate leads via their website as businesses that don't. It also builds trust in your business.

3. Start Building Your Email List From Day One

Most businesses are aware of the benefits of email marketing. However, many small businesses fail to leverage their website or blog to build their email list. This is best done from the start. A simple email sign-up form on your website can produce great results. Giving users an incentive to sign-up to your list is also very important. This can be anything from a newsletter to a freebie such as an eBook or Whitepaper that is relevant to your audience.

4. Distribute Press Release Once A Month

Press releases are easy to create and can be promotional in nature. The editorial guidelines are straightforward and it is easy to get your releases accepted on major press release distribution sites. It is an easy way to market your business and boost your online visibility. For best results, contact local media including newspapers and magazines to see if they will publish your press release. You may be surprised with the result.

5. Take Steps to Boost Conversions

There are many small businesses that get a lot of traffic on their website but fail to convert them into leads. Your website traffic is of little use if you cannot convert them into customers for your business. There are many ways to do this. Here are some examples:

Use good call to action on website

Use call to action in all other marketing material

Make sure call to action are prominently displayed throughout your website

6. Learn From Other Businesses

You can learn a lot from other successful businesses in your niche. Simply looking at their website and social profiles can tell you a lot. There are also many competitive analysis tools that your business can take advantage of. Research your competition to get inspiration and learn new ways to market your business.

7. Offer Discounts and Deals

Every consumer loves a discount. Offering discounts and deals are a great way to market your business and reward customers. Make sure to promote your offers on your social media profiles and through articles and blog posts. There are also many deal websites that you can take advantage of. This is a great way to ge extra coverage for your business.

8. Run Competitions

Running a competition is another very effective way to market your business. Use a good prize or reward to entice customers. It also gets people talking about your brand. Social media sites like Facebook can be great for promoting your competitions and can also attract new followers for your business.

9. Start Using Videos To Market Your Business

Videos are very popular with consumers today and offer an excellent way to market your business. There are many ways a small business can use videos as part of their marketing strategy.

Displaying product videos on website is a very effective way to increase sales. Studies show that customers are much more likely to buy if they see a video on your product or service landing pages.

Being active on YouTube is another effective way to market your small business. YouTube is one of the most widely used channels by consumers today and building your company's presence on the site can get extra coverage for your business and help to attract new customers.

You can also start your own YouTube channel to post your videos as well as share videos of other users that are relevant to your target market. Commenting on videos relevant to your niche is another way to engage with users and increase your brand visibility.

If you are creating your own videos, don't limit yourself to promotional videos about your products or services only. Creating instructional videos that can help your targeted audience to solve common problems will get far more coverage than promotional videos.

10. Have an Ongoing Optimisation Strategy

Your website will be of little use if no one can find it on search engines. Simply optimizing your website at the start is not enough. To get good coverage on search engines, you will need to work on your website continuously, monitoring your statistics closely and refining your website accordingly. You will also need to update your site frequently with keyword rich content and work on building quality back-links to your site.

11. List Your Business On Popular Local Directories

Other local business directories such as Google Plus Local, Bing Local and Yahoo Local are equally important. Make sure to include a good description about your business and a link to your website.

11. List Your Business on Location Based Services and Apps

Location based services such as Yelp and Foursquare are very popular among consumers. Listing your business on these services is a great way to market your business and attract new customers.

13. Be Active on Social Media

A majority of small business already have a profile on the main social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. But this initself will not offer much marketing benefits for your business. To maximize the benefits of social media, you must do more. Here are some tips:

Keep your profiles up to date and fresh with new information

Post few times per week

Add value for users by sharing content that is of value to them

Engage actively with users - follow, share, retweet, like content of other users

Don't just share content from your website

14. Try Google Adwords

Google Adwords, Google's pid advertising program, is a very effective way to get your website listed on search engines for your desired search terms. It can be very effective particularly in the short term while you work on improving your organic rank in the free listings. Due to increasing competition, the cost per click can be high but you can set a maximum monthly budget to keep your costs in control. With the right targeting, the ROI can be easily noticeable.

You can also use free advertising vouchers to try it out and get some advertising for your business for free.

15. Consider Paid Advertising on Social Media

If you are new and do not yet have a large enough following on social media, you can consider paid advertising on social media. Social networks like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube offer cost-effective advertising options for businesses.

16. Make Sure Your Site is Accessible to Mobile Users

Having a mobile optimized website is one of the simplest ways to reach mobile users. In spite of increase in mobile internet use, only about a third of businesses have got around to making sure their website is accessible seamlessly to mobile users. Having a responsive website that automatically scales to fit all screen sizes is a popular method. Alternatively, you can use free mobile website builders to create a mobile version of your website and redirect mobile traffic to this site.

17. Leverage Content Marketing

Content marketing i.e. producing and distributing quality content that is relevant to your audience is one of the most effective ways to market your business and attract customers. This form of marketing is also highly targeted. If done correctly, content marketing can prove a very valuable asset to your marketing strategy. For best results, product a variety content types such as articles, infographics, videos, or webinars and distribute them on several channels.

18. Have an Editorial Calendar

We have already discussed the importance of producing quality content. However, this takes time and effort. A haphazard approach will lead to a waste of valuable resources and not produce the expected results. This is where a publishing schedule or editorial calendar can help.

Conclusion

A good marketing strategy is critical to the success of your small business. Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for years, the proven marketing strategies above can help to grow your business and find new customers.

This is the first part of "35 effective strategies to market your small business effectively". The remaining points will be covered in part two of the article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
35 Ways to Market Your Small Business Effectively: Part 1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Effective marketing is one of the biggest challenges faced by small businesses today. There are many marketing techniques out there, and choosing the right approach for your business is not easy. Here is the first part of a two-part series on ways you can increase your reach and visibility.

# data[].attributes.body
It is a lot less expensive to keep a customer than it is to get a new one. That’s why establishing strong relationships with your customer base is crucial. One of the ways you can do that is by keeping in touch with people through email marketing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When budgets are tight, marketing might be the first expense you look to cut.

Let me stop you right there.

While traditional advertising methods are costly and hard to measure, small businesses have never had greater access to cost-effective, trackable marketing tools.
But with so many digital tools available, how do you know where to start?
Email marketing is the tried and true digital marketing channel with an average return of $38 for every $1 spent.

If you're brand new to email marketing, you can try it out for free! Sign up for your free 60-day trial of Constant Contact here.

Email and social media marketing are just the start. Here are ten marketing strategies that can help you market your small business on a shoestring budget.

1. Craft an elevator pitch

You should be marketing all the time - wherever you are. Therefore, you need a compelling elevator pitch.

Research shows the average attention span of an adult is about six to eight seconds. That's all the time you have to grab someone's attention.

If you successfully engage them, then you only have a little over a minute to really sell them on your product or service. Invest the time to craft a killer elevator pitch. The return on your investment will pay huge dividends in terms of creating business opportunities.

2. Leverage your community

You don't have to think big when it comes to your marketing efforts. Think locally. What's going on in your community?

Sponsor a Little League team or a 5k charity walk/run. Print bookmarks and leave them at the local library. Get to know your ideal customer and think about how and where they spend their time.

Then search for opportunities to get in front of your customer with your marketing message.

3. Collaborate

Put together a group of synergistic, non-competitive businesses in your area and agree to cross-promote.

You can use coupons, fliers, reciprocal website links, bundled promotions or social media platforms. By collaborating with each other, you can expand your customer base because you'll be reaching new people.

4. Network

I'm a huge fan of networking. I don't think there is any better way to build a business than to get out there, shake some hands, and get to know people.

Networking requires a time commitment and it doesn't provide instant gratification, but a strong network is one of the greatest assets any business person can have.

5. Give a speech

A lot of people hate public speaking. However, there are many organizations looking for qualified, subject-matter experts who can present to their groups.

Take a deep breath and volunteer. You don't have to be a pro as long as the information you share is helpful to the audience. And the upside - the more you do it the easier it gets. Plus, it positions you as a credible authority in your field.

6. Create buzz

I started my corporate career in the field of public relations and the business has changed significantly because of technology.

Today, a small business owner can accomplish a lot without hiring a professional firm. Subscribe to Help a Reporter Out. You can respond to reporters' queries that are looking for story ideas and resources. Some are small media opportunities, but others are major media outlets that use this service too.

7. Ask for referrals

Don't be shy about asking for customer referrals. The majority of people say they are willing to provide a referral if asked, but very few take the initiative to do it on their own.

Referrals make it easier to get in the door with new customers. If you aren't asking for them, you are missing opportunities.

8. Build relationships

It is a lot less expensive to keep a customer than it is to get a new one. That's why establishing strong relationships with your customer base is crucial. One of the ways you can do that is by keeping in touch with people through email marketing.

Ask customers for their email address when they visit your store or website. Then, make your communications informative, helpful and professional - something your customers will look forward to receiving.

9. Offer coupons

Coupons are a good way for many businesses to attract new customers. Research shows that people will go out of their way to use a coupon, proving that this method is successful in expanding your customer base.

Coupons can also generate return visits. For example, if you give a customer a coupon for a discount to use on future business, there's a high probability they'll be back.

10. Give it away

If someone has the opportunity to experience your product or service, chances are they will want to purchase more.

Don't be afraid to give someone a free trial or a sample. In today's economy, people are more comfortable purchasing something they have been able to experience first.

These ten, inexpensive marketing strategies will help you engage customers, build relationships, and ultimately keep your brand top-of-mind. It's not always about the money you have to spend on marketing, it's about the time and effort you put into it and above all, the relevance it has for your customers.

Log in to Constant Contact to create your next email. New to Constant Contact? Try us out for free! Sign up for a 60-day free trial.

About the Author: Susan Solovic is THE Small Business Expert. Sign up for Susan's Success Tips Newsletter and get your free copy of "Smart Marketing Strategies for Small Biz" ebook.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in May 2013 and has been updated for relevancy and accuracy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Ways to Market Your Small Business on a Shoestring Budget | Constant Contact Blogs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When budgets are tight, marketing might be the first expense you look to cut. Let me stop you right there. While traditional advertising methods are costly and hard to measure, small businesses have never had greater access to cost-effective, trackable marketing tools. But with so many digital tools available, how do you know where to start?

# data[].attributes.body
In the early stages of your business, you'll likely see a very lean profit margin (or no profit at all), so any money you do make should go directly toward helping you grow.

"A startup's ability to invest in itself [helps] accelerate growth," Lanng said. "In those early years, it's critical to make sure that you're redirecting any revenues back into the company. It's vital to invest early and heavily in order to grow quickly."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Credit: Peshkova/Shutterstock

New business owners have numerous goals when they're starting out, including rapid growth and recognition for their fledgling venture. But overnight success isn't often the standard: There's no specific "special sauce" to add to the recipe for instant results, and nothing is guaranteed.

However, there are ways to reach growth milestones that can catapult a business to success. We asked small business leaders to share their tips for accelerating growth.

Before you can even think about your company's growth trajectory, you need to ensure that you have a solid staff that can help you achieve it.

"With a small business looking to grow, it's important to have the right players at the table," said April Davis, founder of online dating service Cupid's Cronies. "They need to be people who aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves. The words 'That's not my job,' do not exist in their vocabulary. They have to be dedicated to the mission."

"Hiring the absolute best people you can is a surefire way to ensure fast growth," added Christian Lanng, CEO and chairman of business software provider Tradeshift. "It's all about having the right team."

Rather than trying to acquire new customers, direct your attention to the core customers you already have, said Bill Reilly, a Wisconsin-based auto repair entrepreneur. You can do this by implementing a referral or customer loyalty program, or trying out marketing strategies based on previous purchase behaviors to encourage repeat business, he said.

This focus on your established market is especially important if you're trying to get funding.

"In the past, we would highlight our business goal to become a franchise, which didn't resonate with banks," Reilly said. "We learned to emphasize that there is a large market for what we do. This would pique a banker's interest because he or she cares about the return on investment more than your business aspirations."

Risk is an inevitable part of starting and growing a business. It's impossible to control everything, but there are plenty of ways to limit internal and external threats to your company and its growth. One important resource to help you accomplish this is your business insurance provider.

"Small businesses need to manage their growth to avert disruptions that can bring business to a grinding halt," said Mike DeHetre, vice president of product development at Travelers. For example, "the theft of employee data, customer records and product designs can destroy a small business, generating significant costs and eroding customer confidence and loyalty," he said. "Not every business owner's policy covers data breaches or other cyber losses. Small businesses should be prepared by seeking insurance products that help them recover, including those that cover the cost of remediation and lawsuits."

As small businesses grow, they may add space or equipment, create new products or services, or increase their operating and distribution footprint, so DeHetre advised periodically reviewing your policy to ensure you have the right coverage.

"It's easy to forget this step amid rapid expansion, but you don't want to find out that you've outgrown your coverage just when you need it the most," DeHetre said.

One trait that successful startups often have in common is the ability to switch directions quickly in response to changes in the market. Lanng noted that an agile approach to development, both in terms of your product and your company, will help you grow more quickly.

"By allowing yourself to adapt and change quickly, you're able to test different approaches to business and find out what works best," Lanng told Business News Daily. "It allows you to fail, pick yourself back up and keep going."

Chris Cornell, founder and CEO of Manhead Merchandise, said his company has found adaptability to be key in expanding its client base beyond the music industry.

"Look to current pop culture trends for an opportunity to become part of the movement, when it makes sense," Cornell said. "In an era of internet-fame, we looked to expand our horizons beyond the music industry. We partnered with 'The King of Pop Culture' and insta-famous pup, Doug the Pug to release his new gear. Recognizing the reach and popularity of Doug, we were able to take his merchandise to the next level, extending our business model beyond bands."

Customers' perceptions of your business can really make or break a business. Deliver quality experiences and products, and they'll quickly sing your praises on social media; mess it up, and they'll tell the world even faster. Fast growth depends on making your current and potential customers happy with their experience, DeHetre said.

"Compared with large companies, small businesses are nimble, and often better able to see, anticipate and respond to their customers' needs," DeHetre said. "The most successful small businesses exploit this advantage, by bringing new and innovative products and services to market more quickly and developing and nurturing long-term customer relationships."

Dennis Tanjeloff, president and CEO of Astro Gallery of Gems, agreed. He said listening to your customers and giving them what they want is of utmost importance.

"Diversify your offerings so you can best cater to the customers' changing tastes," Tanjeloff said. "Remember, you are here to serve the customer - it's why you are open for business."

Cornell noted that engaging with your audience is crucial, but personalizing the experience can boost and strengthen that relationship.

"At Manhead, we come up with unique creative designs, customized storefronts and pop-up shops personalized for each band [we work with] to help them engage with fans in a new way," Cornell said.

In the early stages of your business, you'll likely see a very lean profit margin (or no profit at all), so any money you do make should go directly toward helping you grow.

"A startup's ability to invest in itself [helps] accelerate growth," Lanng said. "In those early years, it's critical to make sure that you're redirecting any revenues back into the company. It's vital to invest early and heavily in order to grow quickly."
[See also: CRM for solopreneurs]
While agility is an important quality for a startup, you can't fly by the seat of your pants when you're running a business. Planning your next step, even if that means anticipating all possible scenarios, is the best way to stay grounded and secure as your business evolves.

"Set the foundation in place, water it and watch it grow," Davis said. "If you do the foundational work, when you experience growth, it won't be that difficult to adjust, since the hard part is already done."
Additional reporting by Nicole Fallon Taylor.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Secrets for Growing Your Business Quickly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
New business owners have numerous goals when they're starting out, including rapid growth and recognition for their fledgling venture. But overnight success isn't often the standard: There's no specific "special sauce" to add to the recipe for instant results, and nothing is guaranteed.

# data[].attributes.body
Today’s economy requires business leaders to create positive memories for customers and partners, like Mackey has, or customers will turn to a competitor in search of a better experience

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Leading a small business can be more stressful than raising children or maintaining a healthy relationship with your spouse. Here are some basic principles to get you started on a sane journey toward growth.

When John Mackey and his then-girlfriend Renee Lawson opened a vegetarian food store in their Austin, Texas home 34 years ago, nobody-including the couple themselves-would have dubbed him an entrepreneur. Today, a clean-shaven Mackey is most likely unrecognizable to patrons of the bearded college dropout's first shop. He built his venture into the $15.5 billion Whole Foods empire, with more than 300 supermarkets that boast organic and grass-fed meats along with an array of vegetarian fare.

Few will ever rise to the ranks of Mackey, who made the cut for Fortune's 12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time. Mackey created a repeatable process of selling high quality natural and organic products in communities with the right appetite for a brand that relies on customer affinity. It takes a combination of understanding market demand and market size and having repeatable processes to support that market to have a scalable business. And Mackey had to strive to sustain innovation in a world where even Walmart peddles organic foods.

So many business founders come up with a good idea, yet they are unable to scale their companies for growth. Through my own journey as an entrepreneur, I've learned that every business is unique, but there are certain key precepts to follow for success. The few that do succeed do so with unmatched focus, discipline, and unconventional thinking.

Although it takes more than just this to be a success in business, here are five essential principles that you can begin implementing right away as you begin your journey toward growing your business:
1. Timing is Everything
The timing of your product or service must be right in the marketplace. Mackey bit on the organic and natural food revolution just as the public's palate for these products oozed into the mainstream, but if the market isn't ready and you are way ahead of the market, then you must possess the drive and the willingness to sacrifice in order to make that product or service work.

You will need to choose to either wait for the market to catch up (requiring the resources to survive during that period, and accepting the risk of emerging competition), or you'll need to adjust your offering to something more palatable to the market's current readiness.

Smaller businesses have the advantage of being able to make choices and implement changes without the exhaustive process and conflicting points of view that slow down major corporations. You need to anticipate your market and customers' needs and constantly innovate to stay ahead. This requires leadership with agility, resilience, and a willingness to fail-and to recognize that failure quickly enough to adapt and move forward.
2. Brand, Brand, Brand
Today's economy requires business leaders to create positive memories for customers and partners, like Mackey has, or customers will turn to a competitor in search of a better experience. Whole Foods shoppers are loyal and believe they are embracing a healthy and socially conscious lifestyle by shopping at the stores. If you want to create a scalable business, you have to understand just how crucial it is to build brand equity. The emotional attachment that links customers to your product, as opposed to any other, translates into sustainable growth.

Here are some basic rules to connect, shape, influence, and lead with your brand:

Choose your target audience. The surest road to product failure is to try to be all things to all people.

Connect with the public. Your objective is to make your audience feel an emotional attachment to your brand.

Inspire and influence your audience. An inspirational brand message is far more influential than one that just highlights product feature functions.

Reinforce the brand image within your company. Make sure employees at every level of your organization work and behave in a way that reinforces your brand image.
3. Scale Your Sales
Creating a unique product and a unique brand isn't enough. It takes repeatable sales processes to create a scalable business. It is one thing to sign up a few customers; it is another thing entirely to identify, design, and implement repeatable sales and customer delivery processes. You've created a repeatable and scalable sales model when:

You can add new hires at the same productivity level as yourself or your sales leader.

You can increase the sources of your customer leads on a consistent basis.

Your sales conversion rate and revenue can be consistently forecasted.

Your cost to acquire a new customer is significantly less than the amount you can earn from that customer over time.

Your customers get the right product in the right place at the right time.

A repeatable sales model builds the platform to scale. Like the search for product/market fit, it can take major experimentation/R&D to find a repeatable and scalable sales model.
4. Embrace Technology
Nearly two thirds, or 64%, of the recent Bank of America (BofA) Small Business Owner Survey respondents said they wish they took better advantage of technology innovations to help manage their business. If a small business can identify a genuine need, technology likely exists to fulfill that need both locally and globally. There are few barriers to entry in an age where anyone with wireless can cheaply and quickly access the enabling technologies needed to execute their business model. It comes down to creating the right operating blueprint that connects the dots between your business model and the application of accessible technologies.
5. De-Stress for Success
Most small business owners consider managing the ongoing success of their business to be twice as stressful as maintaining a healthy relationship with a spouse or partner, nearly three times as stressful as raising children, and more than four times as stressful as managing their own personal finances, according to the same Bank of America report mentioned earlier. The survey indicates that small business owners routinely forgo physical fitness and other personal priorities to keep up with business demands. Thirty-eight percent of small business owners maintain full or part-time jobs while running their own business.

The stressors can be relentless. But if you're not happy, healthy, and motivated, you can't create a business model that provides a positive market experience. You also set the tone for everyone who works with you. Nobody wants to do business with a grouchy, bitter, and exhausted owner. Therefore, investing the time and effort to adequately take care of your physical and mental well-being will further increase your chances for long-term success. Mental health is not just about going to the gym to let off steam. It's about achieving a state of mental calmness to see you though the relentless challenges-but that's another topic in itself!

[ Image: 500px user Surya Suravarapu]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Essential Principles For Growing Your Small Business

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Leading a small business can be more stressful than raising children or maintaining a healthy relationship with your spouse. Here are some basic principles to get you started on a sane journey toward growth. When John Mackey and his then-girlfriend Renee Lawson opened a vegetarian food store in their Austin, Texas home 34 years ago, nobody-including the couple themselves-would have dubbed him an entrepreneur.

# data[].attributes.body
Nurture your loyal customers

Your customers are the key to your success so it is important to look after them and encourage loyalty. Providing exceptional customer service can keep people coming back and set you apart from your competitors.

Strategies to build loyalty in customers include:

communicating regularly with customers through social media, blogs or e-news

providing after-sale follow up

delivering on your promises

going the ‘extra mile’ and providing benefits that exceed initial expectations

using feedback and complaints as an opportunity to improve services

listening to customers

training staff in customer service and basic sales processes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 steps to marketing your business | Small Business

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Conduct market research Profile your target markets Identify your unique selling proposition Develop your business brand Choose your marketing avenues Set your goals and budget Nurture your loyal customers Monitor and review Conduct market research Market research is a key part of d

# data[].attributes.body
Internet Advertising

The Internet is a highly effective way to reach millions of potential customers. Most companies present both company and product information on their website. Some websites are used for lead generation while others are used for direct orders. Companies can promote their websites on the Internet through various search engines like yahoo.com and google.com, using banners or pay-per-click advertising. Companies also maintain databases of current customers and periodically promote new products to them through e-mail.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Marketing is the process of getting a product from the idea and development stage into the hands of the consumer. Thus, virtually any method or system used to facilitate this process is considered a marketing tool. Marketing tools like cost accounting are used to price products. Marketing tools are also used to design ...

# data[].attributes.body
Get your business cards into the hand of anyone who can help you in your search for new clients. Call your friends and relatives and tell them you have started a business. Visit them and leave a small stack of business cards to hand out to their friends.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Image source: Photospin.com

What's the best way to promote your business? How can you advertise your business and get your name in front of potential prospects when money is tight or you're just starting up? How can you get the word out about your business in the most affordable way?

Promoting a business is an ongoing challenge for small businesses. Whether you're just starting out or have been in business for years, these proven advertising and marketing strategies will help your business find new customers without spending a fortune.

1. Plan your attack. You'll waste precious time and money if you try to market your business without first defining your marketing strategy. Start by identifying who your best prospects are, and then determine the best way to reach them. Be as specific as possible. Is the decision maker the CTO of the company, the director of human resources, or a 37-year-old working mom? Will you find them on Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube or Instagram? What about in-person networking at local business meetings? Will you find people at those meeting who are likely prospects or who know and could recommend you to likely prospects? What about advertising? Will customers be searching for your type of product on Google or Bing? Do they look for coupons in newspapers? Do you want to start promoting your business to them at the start of their buying cycle, or when they're about ready to pull out their credit card and make the purchase. Write your answers down, and refer to them before you start any new marketing tactic. Use this marketing plan worksheet to gather your information.

2. If you don't have a website, get one set up. Having a working website is important for marketing a business. Depending what you sell, your website serves as a lead generation tool, online brochure, catalog, and information source for your potential customers. If you can't afford to have someone custom-design your website, put your site up using one of the companies like Wix, SquareSpace or Godaddy that provide templates and tools that make it easy to create a basic website.

3. Set up a listing for your business in search engine local directories. Google and Bing both offer a free listing for local businesses. To get listed on Google, go to Google My Business. To get listed on Bing, go to Bing Places for Business. Yahoo charges for local listings, but you get listed on a lot more than Yahoo if you buy their service. The service, called Yahoo Localworks, costs $29.99 a month and lists you in 50 directories including Yahoo Local, Yelp, WhitePages, Bing, Mapquest and more. The benefit of paying: You have a single location to enter your data to make it consistent and available on multiple online directories that your customers might search to find what you sell.

1. Set up your business profile or page on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Google Plus,Twitter and Pinterest. Be sure your business profile includes a good description, keywords and a link to your website. Look for groups or conversations that talk about your type of products or services and participate in the conversations, but don't spam them with constant promos for what you sell.

2. If you're just starting out and don't have a business card and business stationery, have them made up -- immediately. Your business card, letterhead and envelope tell prospective customers you are a professional who takes your business seriously. Be sure to list your website address on your business card, letterhead and any handouts you create. Include your main social media profile link, too, if possible.

3. Sign up for an email service, and send an email newsletter and/or promotional offers to customers and prospects for your business. Be sure you ask for permission to send email before putting any person's email name on your list. One good way to build a permission-based email list of people who want your mailings is to give something away. It could be a free ebook, or even a free tip-sheet on how to do something related to your business. If you're a health coach, for instance, you might offer people who sign up for your free newsletter a tip sheet with "10 Easy Ways To Lose Weight Without Going on a Diet." If you don't have anything to give away, try offering a signup discount on products or services as an incentive. An email service like Constant Contact* makes it easy to manage your list and send professional-looking mailings.

4. Get your business cards into the hand of anyone who can help you in your search for new clients. Call your friends and relatives and tell them you have started a business. Visit them and leave a small stack of business cards to hand out to their friends.

5. Give several business cards to your customers if you are a service provider. That way, when their friends and neighbors ask them for a recommendation, they have an easy way to pass on your business name and contact information.

6. Talk to all the vendors from whom you buy products or services. Give them your business card, and ask if they can use your products or service, or if they know anyone who can. If they have bulletin boards where business cards are displayed (printers often do, and so do some supermarkets, hairdressers, etc.), ask if yours can be added to the board.

7. Attend meetings of professional groups, and groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, other local business groups, local chapters of national groups such as NAWBO, or civic associations. Have business cards in a pocket where they are easily reachable. Don't forget to ask what the people you speak with do, and to really listen to them. They'll be flattered by your interest, and better remember you because of it.

8. Pay for membership in those groups that attract your target customers. If the group has a website and publishes a list members on the site, make sure your name and website link get added. Once it is added double check to be sure your contact information is correct and your website link isn't broken.

9. Become actively involved in 2 or 3 of these groups. That will give you more opportunity to meet possible prospects. But remember: opportunists are quickly spotted for what they are, and get little business. While you won't want to become involved in many organizations that require a lot of your time in, you can --and should-- make real contributions to all of them by offering useful ideas and helping with projects when possible.

10. Post Interesting information and pictures regularly to your social media accounts. The information or photos should be interesting to your audience. Tips on how they can improve their life or business or special offers are likely to get the most likes and shares.

11. Pay to boost your most popular posts on social media sites. Target the boosted posts at groups of people who are most like your customers.

12. Look for something unusual about what you do, and publicize it. Send out press releases to local newspapers, radio stations, cable TV stations, and magazines whose audiences are likely to be interested in buying what you sell. Post the press releases on one or more online press release services, too, being sure to include links to your website. To increase your chance of having the material published, send along a photo (but not to radio stations) with your press release. Editors of printed publications are often in need of "art" (drawings or photos) to fill space and break up the gray look of a page of text.

13. Write an article that demonstrates your expertise in your field. Send it to noncompeting newspapers, magazines, and websites in your field that accept submissions from experts. Be sure your name, business name, phone number, and a reference to your product or service is included at the end of the article. If the editor can use the article you get your name in print, and possibly get your contact information printed for free, too.

14. Publicize your publicity. Whenever you do get publicity, get permission from the publisher to reprint the article containing the publicity. Make photocopies and mail the copies out with sales letters or any other literature you use to market your product or service. The publicity clips lend credibility to the claims you make for your products or services.

15. Ask for work or leads. Contact nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges, and even other businesses that have customers who may need your services.

16. Network with others who are doing the same type of work you are. Let them know you are available to handle their work overloads. (But don't try to steal their customers. Word will get out, and will ruin your business reputation.)

17. Offer to be a speaker. Industry conferences, volunteer organizations, libraries, and local business groups often need speakers for meetings. You'll benefit from the name recognition, contacts and publicity you gain from being a speaker at these events.

18. If your product or service is appropriate, give demonstrations of it to whatever groups or individuals might be interested. Or, teach others how to use some tool you use in your work.

19. Put videos of your product or service on YouTube and other video-sharing and slide-sharing sites.

20. Find out what federal, state, and local government programs are in existence to help you get started in business. Most offer free business counseling, and some can put you in touch with government agencies and large corporations that buy from small and woman-owned businesses

21. If you are a woman-owned or minority-owned business look into getting certified by private, state or federal organizations. Many purchasing agents have quotas or guide for the amount of goods and services they need to buy from minority- and woman-owned businesses.

22. Send out sales letters to everyone you think might be able to use what you sell. Be sure to describe your business in terms of how it can help the prospect. Learn to drop a business card in every letter you send out. Follow up periodically with postcard mailings.

23. If you use a car or truck in your business have your business name and contact information professionally painted on the side of the vehicle. That way your means of transportation becomes a vehicle for advertising your business. If you don't want the business name painted on the vehicle, consider using magnetic signs.

24. Get on the telephone and make "cold calls." These are calls to people who you would like to do business with. Briefly describe what you do and ask for an appointment to talk to them about ways you can help them meet a need or solve a problem.

25. Get samples of your product or your work into as many hands as possible.

26. Offer a free, no obligation consultation to people you think could use your services. During such consultations offer some practical suggestions or ideas--and before you leave ask for an "order" to implement the ideas.

27. Learn to ask for referrals. Ask existing customers, prospects and casual acquaintances. When you get them, follow up on the leads.

28. Use other people to sell your product or service. Instead of (or in addition to) selling your products yourself, look for affiliates, resellers or people who will generate leads for you in return for a commission on sales. Be sure your pricing structure allows for the fees or commissions you will have to pay on any sales that are made.

29. Get together with businesses who serve the same market, but sell different products and services. Make arrangements to cross promote each others' goods and services by passing leads back and forth, sharing mailings, and making referrals.

30. Have sales letters, brochures, flyers and other pertinent information printed and ready to go. Ask prospects who seem reluctant to buy from you: "Would you like me to send information?" Follow up promptly with a note and a letter that says, "Here is the information you asked me to send."

31. Run a contest. Make the prize something desirable and related to your business -- it could be a free gift basket of your products, for instance, or free services.

32. Test buying Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising on the search engines. If you are not yet advertising on search engines search for offers that give you $50 or $75 in free advertising to start. Read the directions for the service you plan to use, and very carefully watch what you spend on a daily or more frequent basis until you are comfortable using PPC ads and see you are getting a return on your investment.

33. Promote your posts to targeted audiences on Facebook. This is an expensive way of getting your business in front of potential customers in very targeted locations or who have interests that match what you sell.

FREE Market Research Worksheet from Business Know-How

Figure out who your customers are and where you can find them with this free, fillable Market Research Worksheet.

Find dozens of additional small business marketing ideas in our marketing channel.

© 2018 Attard Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. May not be reproduced, reprinted or redistributed without written permission from Attard Communications, Inc.

*Business Know-How is a Solution Provider for Constant Contact

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
36 Low-Cost Ways To Promote Your Business

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Image source: Photospin.com What's the best way to promote your business? How can you advertise your business and get your name in front of potential prospects when money is tight or you're just starting up? How can you get the word out about your business in the most affordable way?