What do you know about your business?..
If you are new to running a business, and have been working the 9-5 job grind, the thought of running a business can be overwhelming to think about. However, it doesn't need not be a burden to a newbie who is trying to figure out where to start.
Before you initiate any efforts to get started, know what is involved before you even start your business. I believe many make the mistake of trying to get started in their business before they know what is involved. It is important to be realistic.
Start Marketing your Business from A to Z
What do you think it takes to be successful in marketing this another subject you have to consider, in any business but we are going to give you an idea of what is required in a nutshell. First tip is what are you wanting to achieve in your marketing strategy for your business?
Again, research is in order, let me reemphasize that online is a good resource tool to find out the information you need. This is also important to include in your business plan. Also, it would be a good idea to read books or take courses on the subject in a community college or university depending on your budget. Again, marketing and researching your competition is a good idea. Why the research? Research can give you insight on the business your proposing. It is an important step that many business don't have in the equation of starting a business. This is what leads many online businesses to failure.
Why, because, they don't have the information and tools needed to succeed so they ultimately go bankrupt. They also don't have a clue about their competition or market. This is a fatal mistake that many online business just don't get. They don't have a concept what to do online to get their name on the Internet. What kind of marketing?
What about marketing?
1.Forums
2. Adwords
3.E-mail
4.Business cards
5.Classified ads
Let me briefly explain these forms of marketing...
Forums
Forums are an excellent way to build traffic to your to your website. Also, a great way to achieve a higher ranking in the search engines. Search engines welcome that because, it gives you more links and gives them more links to spider to your site. Be sure to know the rules before you post however, or you could be banned from the site. Be in the know about the rules of posting on their website. Be sure to read all the posts, before you post to the thread or subject being discussed. Stay on topic. Don't post ads! Post a minimum of 5 posts a day if possible. Make sure your information is useful, insightful and well thought of before posting a message to the forum.
Adwords
Adwords such as Google adwords is another excellent marketing method to get traffic to your website. However, you may want to look to the experts, before you start this form of marketing. This form of marketing, is not to be left to chance. You need to know what you are doing, to do it effectively. This is where knowledge is power. Power-up your knowledge on the subject by taking an online course or doing some research on the subject, before starting your adwords campaign. Don't be hasty, it is too risky & expensive to second guess on this facet of marketing. So be shrewd.
E-mail
E-mail is a revolutionary marketing medium, that can be a quick inexpensive way to get your red hot promotion, out to your prospects. You can speak to hundreds or even thousands in seconds using an autoresponder. You can also send one message, in a blink of an eye. Even better you can continue to build your list over time.
However, you need to choose your words carefully when it comes to your subject line & when comes to your e-mail message itself. If it is too much like an advertisement, this going to chase your prospect away. Instead your message, should not focus on merely making a sale. It should focus on building a relationship with the prospect not on you.
Warning! PLEASE DON"T SPAM!
This is one thing that you never want to do, is send an e-mail to a person that did not contact you, nor should you ever send an e-mail to someone unsolicited! If you do, at best, they will delete your message. If they are really get annoyed they will forward your message to your ISP and even to the authorities!
If that happens you may loose your Internet connection and may open yourself up to a lawsuit. Neither of which is to your advantage. SO DON'T DO IT! It is better to not even start. It is not good for the creditability of your business anyway. However, if you are sent spam in your inbox you can send a reply back to them with a one time quick message about your business.
Business Cards
Business Cards are an awesome way to introduce you and your business to people you meet. Also to potential prospects you talk to specifically about your business just about anywhere. You can send them in the mail or leave them in any public place that has a place to leave them.
At restaurants for example, or in a store, parking lot, or at the mall and at meetings. Be creative. Be careful not to give people the impression that you are just trying to sell them on your business. Be sure to personable with the people you meet. Be sure you give them the message that you are there for them, to be a solution to their problems. That your business is the solution they need to make their life better. Then, become a friend to them.
Classified Ads
Classified ads are another way, to get your message to the masses. In addition, you can post your ads to thousands of websites worldwide! Be selective on the classified ad sites you go to. The ones that say they can submit your classified ad to thousands of websites could be a trap for sending out spam. So, make sure they have a policy against spam. So the conclusion of the matter, be careful!
However, done correctly you can get your message out to a lot of websites in no time. Creating good classified ads is an acquiring skill... so again becoming educated on what works and what does not work. This is something you should know about creating ads. It is also an art. This where researching your market is helpful. My suggestion to you is, to go to different classified ad sites and view some of the different ads to get a feeling of how they are done.
Also, another way, is to search online to see what the experienced marketers say on the subject can prove to be very beneficial. Also, in time when you start your posting of ads you will find that some ads will pull a better response rate then others. It has been suggested, that, once you discover the ads that get the best results, that you use those ads the most.
The best advise is, that, when you post a classified ad, that you should post it a minimum of 7 weeks before changing it. Why? Because response builds over time. Some people will not respond to your ad immediately.
Some may have to see your ad more then once before they act. Some may have to think your business proposition over, before they decide to respond.
The message is loud & clear, that consistency, patience, persistence is the rule of thumb when comes to this form advertising. You need to be flexible, because the same ad that got a good results one place may get completely different results elsewhere or even in the same place at a later time. Be adaptable to change with the marketing trends. Because the Internet is continually evolving and changing.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Now that you have some information and marketing tools and education you need to get started. You will need a website to get started. Then you will need to register your domain name. I would also recommend a getting an autoresponder.
However, if you are a beginner, lets face it, anyone starting a business for the first time is. My recommendation is, to find an online marketing system that has all those tools already there set up for you.
All you have to do is find the right one that suits you and your needs and abilities. The best one is a marketing system that is free. The one you choose, is a marketing system you can test drive first, before you join. Then, one that gets you leads for you so you do not have to pay for your leads. Well, hope you get your business to a roaring start. Wish you outstanding success in your business.
