Marketing of small business 8

1. Sponsorship
   
   As a small business owner, I do not have big budgets for sponsorship. BUT, the little I can do and offer does not go unnoticed. Every kind of business has a skill or product that is required by organizations contributing to good courses. Take time to source them out and see where you can lend a hand.
   
   Assume our cushion business owner has a daughter in primary school and a son in high school. Schools have reception areas, reception areas have couches. He can offer both schools cushions for their reception couches, which is visited by hundreds of parents, who happen to be home owners. Talk about marketing without lifting a finger. A plumber might think, “well, I cant really put cushions on the school reception now can I?” Of course not, but considering to maintain the local swimming pool or SPCA taps can go a long way.
   
   Look hard and carefully, you can find something to give, where you will get.
   
   
2. Reward repeat customers or clients
   
   I’m not talking about “buy one, get one free” here. Ideas for rewarding repeat customers range from delivering service above and beyond their expectations, giving them “more” for “less”. All the way to helping their kid with a science project building a circuit (you have to be an electrician, please!).
   
   A good example would be of our cushion business owner hosting a cheese and wine at the shop. This would mean that he will invite all the top customers for an evening of fun, give them little gifts (cushions) and party the night away. Add to that, each of them will have to bring a friend. So lets see, he gets to know the loyal customers better, show off his latest range, get new customers and have a little fun while at it (remember, he’s not selling, he’s entertaining).
   
   
3. Be entertaining
   
   OK, I don’t mean be a clown. As a professional, you would want to be taken seriously, you and your business. Let’s face it; no one wants to do business with a grumpy person. Above and beyond the good service that you offer, you’re human dealing with humans. Offering a service with a straight face could loose you a client or two. Loosen up, be easy. Show you’re interested and listed carefully to your client or customer. Smile and show some LIFE. How often have you walked into a shop and the assistant walks up to you asking “Can I help you”, with a face that looks like a scene from a Zombie movie? Do you want to stay?
   I did not think so.
   
   On the flip side, some people can be too much. The jokes you tell to your friends on poker nights should be reserved just for that. When dealing with clients or customers, let them lead you into a conversation, which you will then entertain. Do not take over, play the supporting role, they’re the ones who need to feel special, not you. You will walk out as a nice guy who offers great service, when telling people about you; they will often say “there’s this thing about him/ her that makes it easy to work with”.

You do not need to always be marketing your business, doing the right things while you work on it can turn into marketing.