Creative Marketing Tips: Simple Things You Can Use In Your Business To Attract More Clients

The single most important activity you can do in your small business is create a unique marketing strategy and plan. When was the last time you saw a company marketing themselves in an outrageous way? In this day and age it looks like everyone has read the same book on marketing ? and sorry to say ? that book doesn't work!

What does work ? is a little creativity, a little personality and a lot of effort to make yourself so different from your competition ? that there is no real competition.

1. What crazy stunts could you do to get free media publicity? What type of outrageous challenge could you post to the public (ie give me 30 days and we will change your life, your business, your appearance etc?) Alternatively, go get a Guinness Book Of Records? find something that is remotely related to your business? and design a new record you are going to create ? the media will love you.

2. What's your stadium pitch? Imagine this...you have been given the chance to do a 60 second presentation to 50,000 people in a stadium. Just as you walk out to start the presentation? they announce that people don't have to stay if they don't want. What could you say in 15 seconds to get them to stay? What could you say in 60 seconds to convince them that your company is the only alternative and they'd be crazy not to build a relationship with you?

3. Think about the lifetime value of your clients. When they are first introduced to you they are buying into a relationship with you? they are NOT buying a product. It is up to you to nurture that relationship. Are you? If you treat them right and make them feel like family? your clients will come back? buy more? and buy more often. In today's cold impersonal business world, be the one that treats them like family.

4. Find a way to build a recurring payment plan around your business. If you have a one-time purchase of your product? what could you offer to your clients to have them come back more often? Could you do a tune-up or clean up or re-design once a year? Rather than waiting for them to come in? offer them a reminder service and a monthly enticement to come back in. Bill them monthly, quarterly or yearly. Up to 50% (sometimes more) of your clients will take this option? what would that add to your bottom line?

5. Create joint ventures with other related businesses? anyone that deals with the same target market that you do. Explain to them that you will send them extra business if they give your clients an incentive to buy (coupons, discounts, bonuses etc). Create a booklet that you will give out to your clients with all these discounts. For every discount coupon they use - that supplier is to pay you $xx dollars for the new client you brought them

6. Send out a weekly (even bi-weekly) email newsletter with some tips, some humor, some specials of the week. On the days when it is going to rain - send out an urgent bulletin - rainy day special! Offer them a deal to come down, brave the rain and get a deal on lunch

7. Make doing business with you more exclusive. Make it on a referral-only basis. There is a dentist I know of that locks his door. You are not allowed in unless one of his present clients has recommended you? even then you need to pass the approval process. And he has 3 times more profit (and much happier clients) than any other dentist in his city.

8. Test all of your crazy ideas. No matter how crazy they sound - try it out. Find out which ones work. Then optimize how effective they are. Test all variations of that idea. Find out which variation works best.

9. Use risk reversal in your offer. Make it so your clients come out so far ahead by dealing with you they would be silly not to. Even if they decide that your product is not for them and they return it - they still come out of the deal with the refund and many bonuses that they never had before dealing with you. The stronger the risk reversal and the longer the guarantee? the fewer number of returns and complaints ? it's a fact.

Think differently, be different, make sure people notice you are different - and you will be very profitable. To your success!

About The Author

By Troy White of www.SmallBusinessCopywriter.com... "Turning Words Into Wealth" Helping entrepreneurs jump start their business success and profit growth through uncommon, yet highly profitable, marketing techniques.

http://www.SmallBusinessCopywriter.com? sign up for our *Free* newsletter on-line ?Call 1-877-259-4566? or email troy@smallbusinesscopywriter.com

© Small Business Copywriter.com 2004

---

Do You Make These 7 Deadly Cash Flow Mistakes?

Managing cash flow is every small business owner's most important... Read More

Keeping a Partnership ALIVE and THRIVING

What are the best methods for keeping a good business... Read More

Implementing an Internship Program

CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship,... Read More

How to Find a Microenterprise Loan for Your Business

If you're looking for start-up capital for your business, but... Read More

You Dont Yet Know What You Dont Know

Someone new to business ownership recently told me, "Before I... Read More

Business Valuation is Critical

What is Business Valuation? The term business valuation is the... Read More

Is Your Business Property Safe and Secure?

Security Professionals provide the products and services necessary to create... Read More

Grants vs. Contracts

Commonly folks have asked me what the technical difference is... Read More

But Weve Always Done It This Way

Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get... Read More

How to Avoid the Most Common Reasons for Small Business Failure

The life cycle of the typical small business is short... Read More

The Virtual Assistant

As a small business owner, outsourcing work to Virtual Assistants... Read More

Window Cleaning Business Start Up

Should you buy a business opportunity or Franchise if you... Read More

How to Achieve Real Success in Business: Five Breezy Tips

Achieving real success should be the goal of any good... Read More

Mobile Pressure Washing and City Contracts

Many mobile pressure-washing companies turn to government contacts to make... Read More

How To Get Slightly Famous in Print

Early in my career, I wrote an article for a... Read More

Franchises: How to Find the Best Franchise Opportunity for You

If you are looking for a franchise opportunity, the choice... Read More

Entrepreneurs Go Virtual!

With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing,... Read More

Seven Common Mistakes Made By Small Business Owners

Most new small businesses won't be in business this time... Read More

Slip And Fall Professionals; Service Businesses

Since you own a business you probably have liability insurance... Read More

Keep TRACK of your Business Relationships and Gain Profits

How do you know when an alliance needs to be... Read More

Why Do Most Online Small Businesses Fail?

Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In... Read More

Starting a Small Business: Balancing Risk and Reward

In a perfect world, starting a small business would be... Read More

Fire the CEO

If you are the boss and you think your job... Read More

How to Start a Pet Transportation Business

Pet Transportation Services are needed as the number of pets... Read More

How to Compete with the Big Guns?!

Many small business startups fail within the first 2 years... Read More

Small Business - Would You Still Need An Accountant If You Didnt Need A Tax Return?

After over thirty years advising small business it still comes... Read More

Effective Customer Interviews Make Life Much Easier!

One of the critical success factors for service-related businesses is... Read More

Franchising Pros and Cons

Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose... Read More

Small Business Marketing - Clarify Success

When you hear the word "success" does it bring on... Read More

Common Mistakes When Planning Your Medical Spa

Everything starts with a business plan: If you don't have... Read More

Get Approved for a Franchise

Deciding to start your own franchise is just one of... Read More

SBIR vs STTR

SBIR vs. STTR: If you are participating in the SBIR... Read More

Cash Flow: Why Chaos Equals Poor Cash Flow

Recently one of my customers told me the chaos swirling... Read More