Posted by Admin on Thursday, July 26, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?
Entrepreneurs, freelancers and home-based businesses are quickly becoming a growing breed, thanks to recent job market and economic upheavals. Happily for aspiring moguls, its easier than ever to start your own firm, kick off a part-time gig or launch a second career with help from a growing array of high-tech tools.
Small business marketing is an essential component for success as well, however ? and, thankfully, another area where apps, online services and new technology trends can assist. Looking to start your own business or side job? Consider the following solutions for cost-effectively advertising any professional endeavor:
Affiliate Marketing Programs ? Referral programs can be a powerful way to reach new audiences, and transform fans into brand evangelists. By providing noteworthy incentives and savings, and compensating those who pass the word along with goods, gifts and cash rewards, you create a win-win scenario for all involved. Services like Extole and ReferralCandy offer custom off-the-shelf solutions, so you can promote offerings via social networks, apps, email and other tools. And, of course, recruit thousands of salespeople to spread the word on a strictly commission basis.
SEO Keyword Advertising ? Every time customers punch terms into Googles online search box, theyre entering keywords whose search results you can customize classified ads around. That way, when someone looks for car repair shops Atlanta or Denver freelance writers, your business name will quickly pop up. While popular search terms will be more expensive (advertisers bid for placement in a silent auction), you can quickly tailor daily and monthly campaign budgets, geographic location and age targeting to taste. For better results, use more detailed phrases (Omaha web designer), or ? if youre feeling sneaky ? pick terms featuring competitors names or related products: When users search for them, your ads will pop up.
QR Codes ? Quick Response (QR) codes are barcodes which smartphones and tablets can scan to access multimedia or online information. Attach them to your website, business cards and sale items, and users can download menus on-demand, access exclusive savings, or even see video demonstrations of products in action. Provided you offer meaningful rewards (eg 30% off coupons or two-for-one deals) and attach a call to action to each program (scan now to enter our $5000 Europan vacation getaway!), these solutions offer a handy way of boosting trials and/or user engagement.
Location-Based and Mobile Marketing ? Want to reach potential customers? Consider taking the fight to their pocket. From Geotoko to Placecast and Xtify, location-based and mobile small business marketing services can help you send discounts and giveaways right to their cellular phone via text message, email or pop-up notification. Services such as Foursquare and GoWalla can also be used to link ads to specific locations. Let customers know about specials, sales and discounts when theyre just moments away from a potential stop-off, and it could prove a lucrative decision.
Custom Publishing ? Why spend on pricey mailers or brochures? Whether marketing a dog walking service or promoting your video production skills, consider sending virtual advertisements instead. Many email newsletter marketing services ? ConstantContact, MadMimi, Campaigner, Benchmark, iContact, etc. ? make it easy to send custom-tailored promos, or create original advertisements using user-friendly drag-and-drop templates. Likewise, blogging solutions such as WordPress, Blogger and Typepad let you create attractive websites, magazines and online outlets to promote your company and subject matter expertise. (Especially when coupled with affordable plug-and-play visual templates.) Lack technical or graphic design skills, but still want to promote via a professional looking website? Try online tool Onepager instead, which lets you mix and match premade website designs to create a snappy-looking homepage for your small business.
Source: http://www.oppatriotics.com/?p=2466
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