Small businesses and startup companies are faced with the problem of marketing.
Trying to get your business off the ground requires advertising and marketing activity (both of which cost money, the more competitive the industry the higher the costs) and with limited cash flow, this is a very difficult thing.
We all know that money begets money, so if you have money to throw at a marketing campaign - then you will get results.
However small businesses often do not have the funds and it is advised not to go into debt with marketing for a new business.
So what choices are there?
There are a number of options depending on what sort of market your business is in.
Website Design
In the internet age, all businesses do really need to have a 'cyber' image. Even if your website is just there as a presence it is advised that you do have a website of some sorts.
Websites can be set up quite cheaply; website designers can produce basic website for under 1000 but depending on the number of pages and the amount of design time you want it is flexible.
Advertising
As a new company, you will need to advertise and get your name into the market. This could be done through a variety of means depending on your business and target audience. You could try getting some leaflets designed and printed to them be dropped off to local houses/businesses. You could try putting an advert in the local paper. It would be advised to talk to an advertising company about how best to advertise (as it can vary if you are targeting businesses or consumers).
Public Relations
PR coverage is a popular form of marketing and can be very effective in getting quick and targeted marketing coverage. Whether you are interested in on-line or traditional PR it is well known to be a cost effective and very targeted form of marketing. Choosing a partner from the many PR agencies around the UK really should come down to their experience and knowledge of your industry - that way they can advise how best to market you in your market place.
These three areas would be the main ones for new businesses to look at with regards to getting set up.
Indeed it is difficult as marketing is not a cheap thing and marketing companies do need to get paid to provide their services. Many new companies ask about risk share however this is not something that marketing companies are willing to do (quite understandably).
There are thousands of marketing companies around the UK so it is wise to compare quotes from local marketing agencies in order to get the best price and value.