15 NO Cost Marketing Tips & Tricks

Or: How to Turn Marketing into MONEY

What’s the Difference?(between Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations)

Recognizing the differences can save you time, aggravation, and money.

• Marketing – (WHAT’S GOT YOUR NAME ON IT?)

Encompasses creative promotional campaign strategies, from telemarketing to branding, designed to keep your name in the public eye. One of the most effective methods of marketing your business is to put your name on something that is useful—an item that is attractively eye catching.

• Advertising – (WHERE ARE YOU PAYING TO PUT YOUR NAME?)

You own the space and can basically say anything you want, whereas with PR you have no control of the timing, placement, or editorial process. There are never any guarantees that your story will be published or broadcast, no matter how hard your PR firm may try.

• Public Relations – (WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY HEARING/SEEING/SAYING ABOUT YOU?) Probably the most misunderstood form of promoting your business, and it involves getting your name mentioned in the media. It involves managing your company’s image in the public’s eye.

An effective PR program can bring valuable recognition to your company, if your product or service is mentioned in the media. It's the implied third-party endorsement. PR involves press releases, interviews, articles that are written in the media, and word-of-mouth publicity.

15 Marketing Tips for the Frugal BudgetDO these things….

1. Coupons – discount, “BOGO”

2. Contests – name the next product

3. Frequent Buyer Plan “buy 7, get the 8th one free”

4. Cross-Promotions – “if you buy one of these, get a discount on …. “

5. Trades – advertise a complimentary product with your product (think: cabs and car washes)

6. Be the Expert! Create a newsletter your customers can pick up in your booth

7. Cause-Related Marketing – align your business with an appropriate charity (battered women, back to work programs, cancer, children)

8. Special Events – NEVER turn down an opportunity to give away a gift certificate! (less than 10% are redeemed!)

15 Marketing Tips for the Frugal BudgetDON’T do these things….

1. Mass Coupons, mailed to “occupant” addresses

2. Joining a Chamber or other networking group and NOT getting involved

3. Assuming that “someone else” will take care of all your marketing

4. NOTHING5. NOT have a plan6. Focus inward – “I

need…” “I want…” marketing is focused OUT – “What does my customer need?” “What does my customer want?

7. Fail to TRACK RESULTS!