Marketing In Leominster
Well, I have to say the economy really bites. Unfortunetely I don’t think we all have felt the true power of what’s happening yet, at least at our level. But don’t worry, as small businesses, we don’t have to suffer to the degree of these big institutions.
Why? Flexibility. As a small business, more importantly a small LOCAL business, we have the power to change directions almost instantly and focus our efforts on what is or what could be profitable. Let’s see a Wal-Mart or Target change their marketing that fast…and that cheaply!! They spend millions on branding and large scale media advertising, so their commitment on making a marketing campaign work is set in stone once initiated.
The one thing we all must remember is that our business comes from our neighors, at least in the retail/services businesses. So our marketing efforts must reflect that! You should know better than anyone who your “perfect” or “typical” customer is. You need to know who they are! Learn all you can about them…where they live, what income level are they in, what do they drive, what kind of jobs do they have…all of these things will help you better to understand your current customers, and help you reach new ones.
There are tons of opportunities in town for advertising, and not all require a huge budget. “BUZZ” is one of the best ways of marketing around today. “BUZZ” is essentially viral marketing…or word of mouth on crack.
We all know and respect the power of word-of-mouth advertising, and need to really embrace the use of it. Referrals, out of the ordinary marketing campaigns, or anything that makes YOU stand out can help spread the word at extreme speed…especially when the internet is involved.
My next post will be on “BUZZ” marketing, and how you can use it to really kick your business into overdrive, even in a down economy!