Strategic marketing for small businesses can be as easy as setting up various types of advertising and keeping track of what works best.

A small business owner/marketer may set up a direct mailing campaign, an ad campaign in a magazine(s), a google adwords account, email campaigns and a few local sponsorships that offer exposure like a little league team. It can be any combination of ways to market your company. Many times the best way to market is to advertise where your biggest competition is. This is why we see fast food restaurants opening next door and across from one another, people already know to look there.

Every customer or potential customer who contacts your company should be asked how they found you and a record should be kept. Remember to do your best to obtain at least an email address from every caller. This will allow you to advance your marketing strategy; now you can send your direct mail or email ads to people you know have already called once and may just need a little more ‘encouragement’.

The marketing strategy of small business owners may change very often especially in the beginning. This is ‘ok’ and expected; finding the right places to advertise and the best times of the year is crucial to good marketing. As time passes, the data you have kept will give you clues as to who is calling from where. Be sure to also see what marketing vehicles not only get you the inquiries, but what type of marketing gets you the best customers.

Christian@metroink.com