subject: Tips to Revitalise your Marketing and PR [print this page] If you are a small business owner or solo entrepreneur you may not have a big budget to blow on marketing and promoting your products or services, but without consistent exposure you could be heading for oblivion.
Fortunately, today, it is possible to reach many more people, faster than ever before. Unlike the radio which took 30 years to reach a market audience of 50 million people, and the television which took 13 years, the IPod reached that size of audience in 3 years and Facebook took only 2 years.
Although most of us don't have the advertising resources of big business, it is possible togain greater exposurewith low cost or even no cost marketing and PR. When you get creative and use your imagination you and your businesscan be in front ofnew potential clientswithin days.
Imagine the possibilities for your business!
So, if you need to revitalise yourapproach consider using one or two of the following tips to raise your profile.
Go live on Radio- if you have an interesting subject or story to share that relates well to what you do then contact your local radio station to feature as a guest. They are always on the look out for new topics to broadcast.
Or set up your own radio station using a free online service like BlogTalkRadio. Anyone, anywhere can host a live, Internet Talk Radio show, simply by using a telephone and a computer. Many businesses use this as a tool to extend their brands.
Host a teleseminar or webinar on your chosen area of expertise whether this is raw food, business tips, health, beauty, the topics are endless. By recording your calls you can create a resource library to share with others and showcase your business.
Film a short video clip of you being interviewed about your services or perhaps demonstrating your product. Then post it to on your website, blog and YouTube. This is aneasily accessibleway for others to see you in action and learn more about who you are.
If you don't want to be seen on film then 'be heard' by recording a podcast or series of podcasts sharing a quick tip. You can post these as free downloads on iTunes under your own branding.
Get published in newspapers, magazines or specialist trade papers. Journalists are always on the hunt for new features and new ideas to write about. Craft an outline of a story that will capture the attention of their readers and don't be afraid to be controversial or different. That's what will get you noticed.
Some years ago I hired a former journalist to help me write and publish my first article. It subsequently appeared as a double page spread, was reprinted and copied by a national newspaper, followed by approaches from radio shows and magazines. That one feature for a very small investment enhanced my credibility overnight.
Another approach is to publish articles on-line through free article directory sites. As a regular contributor to these sites, my articles have been republished by readers from the US, Australia and South Africa.
Create a new offer for your product or service. Then print an eye catching postcard that you can either mail to your client list or that you can handout at networking events. Not everyone reads a brochure but a thoughtfully designed card with a clear message will catch the attention of the reader.
