Marketing Your Start-Up on a Shoestring Budget
Your start-up business is working beautifully, you're starting
to get some business and you think that everything is running
like clockwork UNTIL...someone mentions marketing. Dang. Another
expense. Marketing your start-up business doesn't have to be
expensive.
If you carefully weigh the most important marketing tools and
start with those, then your business account won't feel the
pinch, plus, you'll be generating future sales!
I'm sure that you've read the mantra that most small businesses
fail. Well, many of those businesses that failed didn't utilize
any marketing to churn up new customers. Marketing is an
essential ingredient in any new business plan. Adding marketing
doesn't guarantee success, but it does give you the best odds.
So, you some marketing for your startup business but you have a
tight budget - catch 22? Certainly not. You just have to take
baby steps in your marketing and business until you can afford
to implement a full marketing campaign. If you are starting with
absolutely zero marketing, below are some affordable marketing
services that you should add to your business:
1) Identity - You probably have a business name, but do you have
an identity with your business? Do you have a finished logo, a
color combination, a slogan or a business image? Without a
company identity, your customers can't connect with who you are
and what you do.
2) Business Cards / Calling Cards - Once you have an identity,
the next marketing tool that you need is a way to market your
business to your neighbors and prospects. Your business may need
business cards, calling cards or both. Your cards should feature
your logo, contact information and a clear and concise statement
about what you do. For my business, I state "Square2 Creative -
Marketing your small business beyond square one". From that
statement, you know that I do creative marketing services and
target small businesses and start-up companies.
3) PowerPoint Presentation - After you have a logo, identity and
business cards, you are ready to tell the world what it is that
you do. A visual marketing presentation will make your sales and
business meetings much more effective and enjoyable. Most every
computer has Microsoft PowerPoint or similar presentation
software. Start with a template that is already created, then
write your presentation in Outline View. Try to limit each slide
to one thought, and keep the presentation pretty brief. Once you
are finished you can email the marketing presentation to
prospects or present it to them in person.
4) Company brochure - The next small business marketing baby
step is to create a company brochure that highlights what you
do, and promotes your benefits and unique solutions. Microsoft
Publisher has several great templates for brochures. All you
have to do is fill in the text and add a couple of images. A
marketing brochure is perfect as a leave-behind after a meeting
or as a direct mail piece.
5) Simple WebSite - Many more people today use the Internet as
their first place to learn about new companies and their
products and services. Without a website, you are missing a
vital link to your customers and you are probably sacrificing
several qualified leads. A simple website that features brief
company information, directions, testimonials and product images
will go far to improve your credibility and professionalism.
Each of these baby steps can be created for relatively little
expense. But these are simply a starting point when marketing
your start-up business. If you wish to get a quote from me to
complete any of the above babysteps, please send an email to
quote@square2creative.com.
About the author:
Steve Reynolds has more than 15 years of hands-on marketing
experience in design, copywriting, creative strategies and
marketing strategies.
Written By: Steve Reynolds