Simple and Small Business Email Tips

Hello,

In a rough economy it is imperative that a small business owner generates enough business to prosper yet do so in such a way that it does not break the bank account. The great news is that there are creative ways to market your small business that will generate sales as well as keep you in the black financially.

1. If you are selling product on the internet do not overlook the value of email marketing. Email is a very effective tool that allows you to reach people worldwide at little or no cost. In the email or newsletter you send out to your customers or prospects, you may want to include information about any new product or service you are offering and any discounts you may have for that month. Keep it short and simple and always give them something to laugh about. A cute cartoon quip, an interesting or unusual fact, even a "joke of the day" will boost the results you receive from the newsletter.

2. Keep in mind that this doesn't only apply to internet businesses. You can also use this strategy in your bricks and mortar business. For example, there is a very popular breakfast place in the city where I live. They collect email addresses in exchange for free coffee or sometimes a discount to meals. I consider this a fair exchange don't you think. What they do with this information is email from time to time specials, events and promotions. Their emails are conversational and to the point, but it keeps them at the top of my mind that whenever I am around their area or have a friend in town, I never have to worry about where to take them to eat for breakfast. Another example was when I owned a well care bricks and mortar business. We were able to jump sales by about 10-20% on slow days by simply sending quick promotion emails to our databases.

3. If your business has been established on the internet, then extra steps must be taken to ensure that your potential customers can find you. Optimization of your website is extremely important and must not be taken lightly. Your site is useless if your potential customers cannot find you. Invest time to learn about Search engine optimization or SEO. If time is an issue, invest money to hire a search engine optimization specialist. You can also go on online to research simple SEO techniques. To quickly get your business listed go to www.google.com/local/add to get your business listed.

4. When marketing your product are your potential customers. Many times companies limit themselves in whom they are targeting. This is a large mistake. If at all possible never limit your marketing strategies to just one group of people. Look for the hidden niches within your niche. If you have a product geared toward retiree's your audience may also include folks nearing retirement, folks planning for their retirement and for people who know folks in either of these categories.

5. Community interaction is very important to every small business. Remember to get involved in their community to generate local business. This is a very inexpensive yet powerful way to build your brand, expand your network and establish yourself as the local authority. Do not underestimate this power of this type of publicity. Think about sponsoring a local soccer team or passing out free water branded with your company name at a local fair or bazaar. Have an open house offering free doughnuts in your parking lot. The result of this is top of mind awareness to folks in your community, thereby leading to referrals galore.

Thanks
sam