Seven is not cheap Cheap Advertising Tactics

Many small businesses have limited marketing communications, advertising aka, budgets, which makes it even more crucial to thoroughly research, choose the best way (s) and target prospects carefully.

The following list contains seven proposals for achieving results "Champagne" on a budget "Beer"!

1. Develop one or more robust, customer reference programs

Although most business owners recognize that references the customer generates a lot of their new business, very few have implemented an incentive "formal" referral program, although this is one of the most effective, least risky to acquire customers important ... especially if you are a professional service!

Example: to offer existing clients who refer a friend a free month / hours of service; instant "bottom of the bill" credit, or free goods and a "Spiff" for "referee"! Details are to you ... I go into much greater detail the types of programs referenced in my book, "Marketing, The art and science of getting and keeping profitable customers" if you want to learn more.

2. Dance with the guy who you have been raised

There is absolutely no reason to abandon old marketing collateral (marketing jargon for brochures, letters, direct mail, signs, point-of-sale displays, ad copy, promotions, etc.) if they still work! Is it okay to use the same creativity, send it to their own prospects and / or running in the same publications over and over again, as long as it generates the desired results. However, it is always a great idea to conduct continuous small, static tests look good as new, offers and messages.

3. Do not overdo the quality and quantity of your pieces or advertising media mix

Smart marketers know when to "put on the dog", and when it is a waste of money. Fall in love with fancy four color brochures, magazine ads sparkling, TV spots in prime time, or silver embossed letterhead is a huge mistake.

Commercial vehicles, look and feel, and quality of all your marketing communications must be appropriate for your product or service and, above all, have a measurable impact on its effectiveness.

For example, variables such as quality of paper and graphics on a direct mail letter are far less important than the offer, then you can potentially save thousands of dollars by cutting the frills. The opposite is true when you are developing a professional brochure is intended to represent your company to the outside world.

Bottom line: you do not wish for the good of the imagination ... is a waste of money, unproductive and can even be totally inappropriate for the target audience.

4. Use studies, reports and articles to help educate potential customers about your products or services

This is a wonderful, low-cost way to add weight! You can also imagine a New York Times nutrition obesity with your piece of direct mail services? What impact! Or maybe dietician that would enclose a reprint of a medical report that some childhood diseases linked with poor eating habits?

5.Use boiler plated Literature Models

What a simple but powerful tip! An often-embarrassing, expensive and often is how to develop appropriate material for the market a diverse audience, without going broke.

The solution is simple. For example, you can develop different sales letters using a "boiler plated" template, the same layout and contents are suitable for all audiences. However, different predetermined sections are left blank for personalization. This is often called "modular literature"

6. Do not change your car oil

How do you know? You've probably had similar experiences ... You know the ones ... trying to save a few bucks doing it yourself? So that's it ... driving to the store, waiting in line, ask questions, look at the merchandise, choose ', oil pan, funnel, wait in line to check out, pay the cashier $ 24.97; drive back home, try to jack the car so you can get in to put the pan in place, loosen the screw, take a bit of oil in skillet; get most of the oil on you, get a funnel and fill it with new oil , all close, throw the shirt in the trash can full of oil, and take a shower.

Cost? $ 24.97 at things; $ 1.32 in gas, $ 25.00 shirt in ruins; 3.25 hours of your time, $ 1,000,000 in frustration ... All this, when you could have done for you for $ 32.00!

Lesson learned: know what is best left in the hands of professionals. Low cost is not always better cost!

However, there are times when you make yourself smarter! If you have better than average computer skills or talents of the design is easy to create things like business cards, letterhead and tappets bill ... but please, if you're not a buyer announcement of job, do not try to buy, or design book All the media (especially TV and radio) alone! Trust me, you waste more money than you save!

7. Pay suppliers on time

Not only endear you to the suppliers, but you can get discounts your vendors pay sooner or create your own comment! This also saves money on late fees and will surely be the most likely vendors to extend the prices even better and we offer top-notch service in progress....