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How To Create A Complete Referral Marketing System
These steps are taken from the Referral Flood Marketing Program. Referral Flood is an insider’s shortcut to referral marketing and features over 4 hours of audio training, 54 real-world referral marketing systems, and a host of referral...
I Can't Afford A PR/Publicity Campaign -- Can I?
It’s a phrase I hear over and over again from many entrepreneurs, small businesses owners and inventors: “I’d love to hire someone to launch our publicity campaign professionally, but we can’t afford it, so I’m just going to have to do it on my...
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The Secret Science Of Online Shopping
In theory you could create a retail web site with a limitless selection; an online store where every kind of merchandise known to man could be sold. Would people be interested in buying from such a huge enterprise?
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How a Small Business Can Build a Customer Base
Building a solid customer base is a necessity of any small business. Often times these smaller businesses cannot compete effectively with larger companies in terms of resources. For example, Tom’s mini-Mart is not going to be a match for Farmer Jack’s Grocery Chain. The later will beat them in parking, prices and variety every time! Therefore, there must be something more than just price to attract and retain customers. The good news is that many small businesses have benefits that larger companies don’t have. They thrive in the realm of the “something else” that larger companies simply can’t accommodate.
The first step in building a customer base is to define who your customer is. This is called a psychological profile. Take a piece of paper and write down the qualities that many of your customers have. Make sure to include hobbies, personality, income, employment states, distance from store, etc. Then go through and circle the qualities that seem to fit the majority of your customers the best.
The next step is to use the psychological profile to develop a marketing plan on how to reach your population in the most cost effective manner. For example, if many of your customers live within the same neighborhood, have children engaged in local sports and are pressed for time then your marketing plan should try and appeal to them. You may decide to stop by the local baseball game and give away free drinks, offer local delivery, give discounts for family
members, or send flyers door-to-door. Once you know who your customer is and how to reach them you must determine how to write your advertisements. For our busy neighborhood consider the following, “Mom’s we know you are busy. That’s why Tom’s mini-Mart wants to give you a break. Call us and we will deliver your supper groceries in less than 30 minutes. If you don’t feel like cooking, then we will send you a family size delicious homemade meal fresh from our deli department.” The object is to write the advertisement so that it helps solve the problems of people in your market. If it makes them feel sad , happy or more convenient then you have done well. Small businesses can compete because they are more convenient. Many times customers avoid large chains because they take so much time to navigate. Small business also has the ability to truly give good customer service. If you are unsure of how to maximize your marketing efforts then hire a good small-business consultant that charges reasonable fees.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Murad is a two time published author on economics and reform. He runs an heirloom farm, is a doctoral student and manages a consulting firm. To read more articles written by Murad please visit http://www.muradenterprises.org
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| United States Small Business Administration |
| An electronic gateway of procurement information for and about small businesses. Search engine for contracting officers, marketing tool for small firms, ... |
| www.sba.gov |
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| SBA |
| The Small Business Planner includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business lifecycle. ... |
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| Main Page - SmallBusiness.com - Small Business Resources |
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| Business & Small Business |
| Online and print small business publication. Information to help start, grow or manage a small business. |
| www.entrepreneur.com |
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| Microsoft Small Business Center |
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| www.microsoft.com |
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| The Small Business Advisor - advice for starting and operating a ... |
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| www.isquare.com |
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| SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" |
| A nonprofit association dedicated to encouraging the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide through counseling and mentor programs. |
| www.score.org |
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| Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource |
| IR-2006-2, January 3, 2006 - Temporary and proposed regulations will significantly reduce tax filing burden for nearly 950000 small business owners. ... |
| www.irs.gov |
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| Welcome to Small Business BC your business resource in British ... |
| BC Business Services offers assistance and resources for those running or starting a business in British Columbia and Vancouver. |
| www.smallbusinessbc.ca |
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| Small Business Service | Home |
| Provides information and advice to help small businesses realise their potential. |
| www.sbs.gov.uk |
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| NSW Small Business |
| A site developed by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development for small businesses. Topics include management, resources, current issues and ... |
| www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au |
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| Business Management & Advice: Small Business Resources & Information |
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| Small Business Lawyer, Attorney, Law, Legal Help - FindLaw for ... |
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| smallbusiness.findlaw.com |
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| Small Business Funding Opportunities (SBIR and STTR) |
| Links to Small Business Funding Opportunities and SBIR / STTR Applications. |
| grants.nih.gov |
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| Microsoft bCentral Small Business Directory |
| Directory categorized by industry with company business card feature. |
| sbd.bcentral.com |
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| Small Business Development Corporation |
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