Marketing Tips

©2000 Michelle Dunn

Marketing is one of the most important things you do for your business. A common mistake new entrepreneurs make is thinking that they only have to market their business in the beginning to obtain new customers and get their business off the ground. You have to market your business every day forever. Here are some things you can do to help you in your marketing endeavor:

• Networking, join a chamber of commerce or rotary club
• Give speeches or seminars
• Volunteer at local events
• Create a Gift Certificate or Coupon
• Make your self newsworthy by holding a contest, sponsoring an award, etc.
• Ask existing customers for referrals
• Advertise in a local paper and on-line
• Write articles and columns
• Send out Direct mail in an unusual or lumpy package, include a sample

The Federal Trade Commission has strict rules on when a business can use the telephone for solicit customers. Violation of these rules can result in a fine. The rules are:

• Call only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• Inform the customer that it's a sales call
• Describe the goods or services you're selling
• If there is a prize involved, explain the odds of winning and that no purchase if required to win

Marketing can be a fun part of your business day, make sure to do at least one thing to market your business every day. Don't get discouraged; it can take months or even years to see results from your marketing efforts. I recently obtained a new customer, which was the result of my visiting their office over a year ago and leaving a folder of my information

Michelle Dunn started and successfully ran M.A.D. Collection Agency for 8 years, and has received wide press with articles appearing in Ladies Home Journal, PC World, and many other magazines and newspapers. Michelle owns and operates www.Credit-and-Collections.com (an online professional collections community for networking and discussions) and Never Dunn Publishing, LLC.

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