30-Minute Marketing

by Sara Pedersen

Marketing your small business takes tons of time, years of experience, and lots of money, right? Wrong! Anyone can learn effective marketing techniques that are simple, inexpensive, and best of all, quick! Get in the habit of REGULARLY marketing your biz! The following are some marketing techniques that you can accomplish in 30 minutes or less. Pick a few that appeal to your style. Then, write down each one on your calendar on a specific day you so you WILL accomplish this task.

BE AN EXPERT

Type up a list of your top five favorite seasonal TIPS related to your business and send it to your local paper. Invite the news editor to run the tips along with your contact information in an upcoming issue.

GET IN TOUCH

The next week, follow up that letter with a phone CALL to that editor. Make it short, sweet, and to-the-point. Tell her what you do for a living and what you can contribute to the paper. Offer to be a resource in the future.

BECOME A JOINER

Spend 30 minutes online researching local NETWORKING groups. Make a list of those that interest you. Next week, spend 30 more minutes contacting those you might consider joining.

MAKE CONNECTIONS

Scan your Yellow Pages for companies that might be sources of REFERRALS. Make a list. Another day, spend 30 minutes contacting some of these professionals via phone or e-mail to see if informal, mutually beneficial partnerships or cross-referral programs could be formed.

YOUR ELEVATOR SPEECH

Write your 60-second commercial so, when introduced to people, you can easily and articulately EXPLAIN what you do for a living.

A QUICKIE NEWSLETTER

Send your top five favorite tips (make them season specific) via e-mail to your DATABASE. Don't forget to include your contact info and a "call to action." Try, "Call me today to schedule a hands-on consultation," or "Call today to take advantage of my summer special."

ASK FOR REFERRALS

Develop a simple INCENTIVE program for current clients, encouraging them to refer their family and friends to you. Draft a note and send via e-mail or create a postcard to send via postal mail.

COLLABORATE

Contact another small business owner in the SAME line of work in your area that offers a service that you don't. Agree to send business to each other whenever possible.

THANK YOUR BEST CUSTOMERS

Send a thank-you card to past clients. Include a COUPON for 10% off or a free gift with their next purchase.

Sara Pedersen is a professional organizer who enjoys helping clients organize, simplify, and create time to do the things they love. You may visit her website at www.time2organize.net.

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