Redirect Your Marketing to Your Customers in Your Community by Kim M. Sudderth

As we move forward into the year we must be creative with marketing for our businesses.  Social media is wonderful for getting followers and customers worldwide, but what about the customers who live in our communities. We have spent a lot of resources and time marketing to customers in other states and countries; however we over look our communities.  When we over look our communities we miss out on making great opportunities to connect and develop relationships. We also leave money on the table (money to be made).

Here are a few tips to jump start marketing in your community.

  Put Your Flyer On A Coffee Truck

Become a friend with someone who owns a coffee truck or a mobile food truck in the community. Once you have developed a relationship, asked if you can display your flyer on the truck. The owner may do it for free or for a small cost. It is worth it because you not only have people who will see your flyer; you have made a connection that can add up to more than you adverting on their mobile food truck.  

 Advertise On Hot Beverage Holder

The last time you purchased your hot coffee or tea there was cup holder on it so your hand would not burn. If you had looked closer you would have seen there was a logo or some form of advertisement on it. Picture your logo or ad on it. You can do direct marketing to the community by putting your message directly in their hands. Pick a store or two in your community. Give the owner some of the cup holders with your message on it for Free. The owner will be glad to take them because this something he will not have to purchase. It frees up money in his budget to do other things. It’s a win/win for both of you. And, you would have made another connection.

 Read all about

As much as the world is online reading, there is still a large amount of people who are still buying newspapers. Become friends with a news stand owner. This can include the man who sits at the subway/bus stand in the morning. The goal is to get your flyers in the hands of his customers while making a connection with him.

 Team Up

Pick a non-profit group in your area, connect and work with them. Developing the relationship is the key. You can volunteer your time, provide your services or products, sponsor one of their events or create an event together. There are many ways to connect with them, find the best way. You will help them meet their goals, while doing something wonderful for the community and getting free advertisement of who you are and what you do. They will see you as asset and promote your business. The best promotion is word of mouth. This has worked for me.

As you can tell with each tip it starts with developing relationships. I believe today we have forgotten about the relationship when it comes to business. Yes, we have new ways to make money and marketing international with the ability to reach people we might not have 20 years ago; however our fore fathers always build their businesses on relationships that last generations. Let us rethink how we do business and where we do business.

Content copyright 2015. SoLo Parenting Magazine. All rights reserved.

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