30 Tips for Building a Business
Here are 30 Tips for Building Your Business:
01. Send postcards to clients announcing the redesign of your web site.
02. Offer current customers and clients a discount if a new customer mentions their name.
03. Visit businesses in your area that offer products or services that would dovetail with your yours, and offer to promote each other.
04. Develop a program for local schools and offer to present it at PTA.
05. Schedule short appointments with local professionals to tell them how your services can help their business.
06. Get acquainted with the staff in the sales offices at local hotels. Get on their mailing list so you’ll know which conferences are being booked in their hotel.
07. Dress for business whether shopping or traveling, and always have your business card handy.
08. Leave your business card everywhere you go. Leave it with the tip when you pay your restaurant bill.
09. Carry brochures and mini-flyers with you, and pass them out freely.
10. Network at local Chamber of Commerce meetings.
11. Write books.
12. Produce digital products.
13. Write a blog.
14. Set up a booth at trade shows or business expos.
15. Write an article for your local paper. Send a copy to prospective clients or customers.
16. Print T-shirts with your web site on them. Wear the T-shirt, and have your family wear them, too.
17. Give talks to local organizations who need a speaker for their meeting.
18. Make phone calls to prospective customers or clients.
19. Send emails to your customer list.
20. Send thank-you notes to past customers.
21. Ask for letters of recommendation/endorsement from past customers or clients.
22. Send unusual Christmas cards. Send cards for different holidays. Not many people expect to get a card on the 4th of July or at Thanksgiving.
23. Include your web site and what you do under your signature line when sending out emails.
24. Develop additional web sites with topics different from your main site, each linking back to the other.
25. Volunteer for an organization whose cause you believe in.
26. Contact your local Welcome Wagon about including your flyer or a discount coupon in their packages.
27. Call the local radio stations and ask about donating a prize for your products or services for one of their contests.
28. Find out when the next job fair or career day will be held in your area, and volunteer to be a presenter.
29. Advertise in the local weekly newspaper or on your local cable network. These fees are usually much less than regular newspaper or television advertising.
30. Contact local area businesses, churches, community colleges, pizza shops, delis, restaurants, health clubs and offer discount coupons for their customers and members.
For more on building your business, check out Shoestring Business Coach.
You can also listen to my show on Blog Talk Radio.
- Teresa -
