Choosing your marketing methods

When it comes to your small business, marketing is one of the most important things you can do. Marketing will help you to promote your business and get the word out about your company.

There are many different types of marketing methods, from traditional brochures and mailers to online marketing to special promotions. In order to have a successful marketing campaign and business overall, you will need to choose your marketing methods carefully.

Some of the things to consider before choosing your marketing methods include:

• Budget. Knowing how much you can spend on marketing will help you narrow down your choices. If you have a small budget, for example, you might not be able to afford a television commercial.


• Type of business. Different marketing methods work for different businesses, so consider the nature of your business and the type of image you want to portray when choosing marketing methods.


• Your target market. For example, if your small business caters to senior citizens, you might want to skip online marketing, as market research has shown senior citizens don't spend as much time online as do younger age groups.


• Your products and services. Certain marketing methods are better for your business depending on your products and services; for example, if your small business is a graphic design business, your marketing materials would most likely focus on print materials where you can show off your services.

Types of marketing methods
When you have an idea of your budget and who you are marketing to, you can then choose marketing methods. Some of the more common include:

Print materials
This type of marketing includes product brochures, flyers, mailers, advertisements, and so forth. Print materials can be easily distributed, mailed, or posted in areas where they are likely to draw interest; for example, posting a flyer for your after school day care by a school or in a library. Print materials can be expensive, however, to print and distribute.

Internet marketing
This type of marketing uses the web to sell products and services. This includes emails you send to people, pop-up ads, or blogs. This is a very effective way to reach a lot of people and can be as simple as having a website or linking people to your blog.

Grand openings
If you have a store, a grand opening with free food, balloons for kids, discounts on products and services, or entertainment can be a great way to draw people to your business and market it. Advertise your grand opening at least 2 weeks before the event.

Referrals
Word of mouth is a trusted and great form of marketing, and the one most often used. You can increase word of mouth by offering rewards to your current customers for referring your business.

Press releases
Press releases are an effective, free way to market your business. When you have a new product, sale, or event and want to publicize your business, you can write a press release and submit it to local media outlets for publication.

Direct mail marketing
Direct mail marketing involves sending marketing materials, coupons, and so forth to people on a mailing list. This can be hit or miss, so carefully consider the pros and cons before relying on direct mail marketing.

Choosing your marketing methods is an important decision that should be considered carefully.There are many different types of marketing methods you can use for your small business. These are just a few that can help you market your small business.