Getting Started
- Research your competition.
- Start a file of ads and promotions you like.
- Set goals for where you want to be.
- How much money do you want to earn?
- Exactly what do you want to accomplish?
- WRITE IT ALL DOWN!
What’s Different About You?
- Target your market regionally and by demographics.
- Write a short, honest, memorable positioning statement.
- What is different about you?
- What benefits your customers most?
- Fine-tune your image.
- Consistent logo and type used.
- Refine personal image (your office projects your image).
Start Promoting
- Speak Up—become a local authority for your specialty.
- Volunteer with complementary causes.
- Write a column or an article.
- Send press releases and news releases to ALL media.
- Cross-promote with other businesses whenever possible.
- Don’t overlook bartering and networking.
- Use community bulletin boards: radio and TV.
Keeping Your Customers
- Build your own database with ACT or Outlook—ask permission!
- Maintain contact with your own holiday cards, articles, and gifts.
- Ask customers to refer you or provide you with references.
- Ask customers how you can improve service.
- Listen to your customer carefully—what is working?
- Give the best incentives to long-term customers.
- Build your own website.
- Start an e-zine, e-mail contact maintained with permission.
FREE, Not Easy
- Work harder and work smarter than your competition.
- Provide more to your customer—always say “thank you.”
- Keep it simple! Give your promotions time to work.
- Keep your focus and be consistent.
- Ask what you can do to help yourself every day.
At the point that you don’t have time to do your own marketing?
Give us a call at 573-221-3635… or send us an email at info@poolecommunications.com.
