Affordable Small Business PR
Public relations can be one of the most valuable forms of marketing in that it tends to deliver mass exposure at a fraction of the cost. For example, it can provide a level of credibility that can’t really be fabricated. It also helps to create a buzz around a business if conducted appropriately. For these reasons, PR can be a particularly effective tool for small business owners.
Unfortunately, public relations agencies often work on monthly retainers and require a significant budget to get the ball rolling with even small-scale marketing campaigns. So, how can the average small business owner afford a PR campaign that delivers results without committing to fixed monthly fees or blowing their whole marketing budget?
Public relations doesn’t have to have an expensive, high profile campaign to yield results. In fact, a simple press release can be a highly effective tool in generating media exposure without having to worry about creating a truly innovative idea designed to take the world by storm. A press release that covers the fundamentals of a story, is interesting, and is as easy as possible for a journalist to implement can generate significant exposure on both a local and national level. This can also cement the resources and contact lists for future PR campaigns.
Challenges of Email Marketing for Small Businesses
According to a survey, conducted by Hurwitz & Associates for Ontario-based email marketing service provider Campaigner (a solution of Software-as-a-Service communication services and solutions company Protus), almost half of North American small businesses use email marketing today.
Campaigner’s “State of Small Business Online Marketing Survey” found that 46% of small businesses surveyed rely on email marketing to help them find new customers, keep existing ones and grow their businesses. Hurwitz & Associates gathered responses from 259 North American businesses with 1 to 20 employees.
Furthermore the report reveals that 36% of the surveyed small businesses plan to start using email marketing in the coming year.
Unique Selling Propositions
If you’ve been involved in sales and/or marketing for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the term “Unique Selling Proposition.” But just in case you haven’t, let me explain what a USP is.
A Unique Selling Proposition is what makes a business unique and/or different from all other businesses in its category. For example, the USP for a high-end restaurant, might include the exclusive clientele it serves, a specialized menu, white glove service, as well as other exclusive amenities.
Two Classic Unique Selling Propositions
To further illustrate what I’m talking about, following are two examples of the most famous and successful USP’s in the history of advertising:
Becoming An Expert In Online Advertising
Even though the economy is still struggling to recover, businesses have more of an incentive to focus more on online advertising. The traditional avenues of advertising – like television, newspapers, and magazines – are struggling with fewer viewers, subscribers, and buyers. However, free sources of entertainment and media such as the Internet and radio are gaining more of audience. So, companies are beginning to advertise more utilizing online marketing methods since there is now a greater opportunity to increase their return on investment.
Secret Weapons For Promoting A Business
New small businesses are often faced with the task of marketing on little or no budget. Aside from the staple marketing materials like business cards and a website, there are other strong and effective marketing tools which are often overlooked. Here are three secret weapons for the small business to create awareness, reinforce brand recognition, and keep customers.
