Posts Tagged ‘marketing ideas’

What makes a great shopping cart? 10 Qualities to look for in an online shopping cart.

Let’s face it; most businesses today need to have a presence on the Internet. The problem is, that most small business owners are quite honestly scared of the work it will take to get their business online.

You Can’t Please Everyone, All the Time.

The recent tough economy has changed small businesses because it has forced many of us to do what ever we can to make the sales, even if it means discounts or giving something away. At the same time, this has trained consumers to never be satisfied with the listed price. As we are coming out of this recession and starting on recovery, small business owners are going to need to set some reasonable boundaries. Small businesses that offer quality work, high caliber products and fair prices will surely succeed during this recovery.

Interesting Internet Statistics

Are you a small business owner who is still trying to decide if your business should be on the internet? I came across a video on YouTube yesterday by Jesse Thomas that really makes you stand up and take notice about the internet. We have come a long way since the day that I started messing with the internet back in 1991. Watch this video and form your own opinion.

Who is in charge of your marketing?

As small business owners, we often have to wear several hats. Whether it is the marketing hat, finance or sales, ultimately, as the owner we are responsible for the success of our company. So please, don’t let someone who works for you or with you make decisions about your company that are not based on fact or which could have an adverse affect on your success. If you are not sure about a marketing or business decision, then hire a professional to get advice. Even then, unless their pay is tied to your success, make sure you consider carefully what they tell you and hold them accountable.

What did we do before the internet?

The internet has opened doors and expanded territories of many small businesses. If you sell a product, you can easily market this over the internet and open up a larger market for sales. Most of this might be old news to many small business owners, but the truth is I still come across business owners who do not have a presence online. Some of them don’t even use email? How do they conduct business? Some of these businesses are actually the ones that have lost business to the internet. Let me explain: In my example, I stated before the internet I would have to call a T.V. repairman or a repair shop to have my T.V. fixed. The internet has most likely reduced the need for a T.V. repairman so what would you do if this was your business?

Reach for the Stars…

Whatever you do, don’t stop dreaming. Where would we be today if people didn’t dream or stretch themselves to go beyond their current situation and reality? Don’t stop dreaming. Reach for the stars and you won’t be disappointed if you only get the moon.

Guerrilla Marketing Tools – Business Cards

My first and most important tool for our business, THE original basket boutique, is the business card. The business card, while it sounds so common and conventional is actually a very powerful guerrilla marketing tool when it is employed properly. Your business card can be unconventional or conventional. It depends on your business. Ours is unique in that it is a smaller size with rounded corners and has a hole in the center of our “O” in the logo. You can make your card unique by adding full color pictures or logos. Have it printed on glossy, heavy paper as apposed to regular business card stock. Sure it costs a little more, but it’s not so much that it cost prohibitive.

Keeping Customers in a Tough Economy

Let’s face it; your current customers are your business life’s blood. They are generally your primary source of revenue you should be spending a good percentage of your marketing budget focusing on them. A good rule of thumb is that 60% of your marketing budget should be spent on your current customers or marketing directly to them. Remember, it costs far more to gain a new customer more often that it does to keep a current one.

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