There is no denying the fact that marketing is deemed to be an expensive affair. This is particularly true in the case of small businesses. No matter how much you try to avoid it, there is no way that you can escape it.

If you want your small business to grow into something big, then you need to understand that there are certain important ways to invest in marketing. Even though you might consider word of mouth to be the best form of marketing, it is simply not enough. If word of mouth is the only form of marketing your company has you are missing out on many other opportunities.

We asked a small business owner, who is a grosse pointe dentist, about his online marketing and how it has helped him grow his business. He replied saying platforms such as Facebook and Google have allowed him to create ads that convert new prospects into paying patients. He would not have had these new customers had he not invested in marketing.

It is easy to understand how it can be a major problem for those companies who seem to conduct their operations on a shoestring budget. Even if your company is on a tight budget, there are still plenty of other options. The world of marketing is so diverse and flexible that it is possible to find a solution for every kind of need and problem.

The importance of business cards

Giving out business cards is a great and cost-effective idea. This is because it is a quick way to exchange information. Business cards give you credibility and look professional. The reality is that you can meet potential vendors, employees, and clients anywhere. Business cards help you to always be prepared so that you won’t regret letting a good opportunity pass you by.

In addition to them being a very cost-effective marketing tactic, business cards are a great way to find leads with the people that you would most likely develop a personal rapport with. We recommend that you don’t spare any expense when it comes to business cards. In fact, it is better for your business if you go for the slightly fancier and more sophisticated options. Doing so will help in leaving a lasting impression in the minds of your potential customers and employees.

When designing business cards, you need to make sure that it matches your branding goals. Other information that you should include is your name, designation, website address, and contact details.

Storytelling

There is no better way to immediately connect with potential customers than telling your story through video. visual storytelling can immediately build trust, breakdown barriers, and develop a relationship with your customer base by telling the company’s story through a high quality video.

Network

Just like having business cards is important, the importance of networking can’t be stressed enough. In the business world, there is no way that you would be able to achieve success without the help and appreciation from other people. That is why it is so important that you put your networking and communication skills to good use.

If you already have a network, then half of the work is already done for you. You just have to rely on the assumption that they like you and that you can count on them. All you have to do is reach out to them and let them know that you will be open for business. In order to make your efforts more effective, you can use social media to your advantage. Just a simple tweet, Instagram or Facebook post works great.

People who know you well are the people most likely to check out your company. Those are also the people who will be most likely to recommend it to their friends.

It is a good idea to network with the industry groups as well. By making yourself known within those groups, you are able to participate in various discussions. In addition, if you have any questions, you can get them answered easily. The main point is that you need to make yourself stand out since these are the kinds of relationships that are invaluable.

Incentives for referrals

Since this is small business that we are talking about, referrals could do wonders for your business. However, do not get it confused with a referral program. With your resources being strapped, it is very difficult for you to set up an online referral system program. For that reason, you can take the simple and easy route. This means telling your current customers that they will receive special deals and discounts if they refer your company to someone and that person they referred you to turns into a customer. You can send them emails to remind them. This is something that is done for previous clients as well. After all, the goal is to get them to come back to you again.

The bottom line is that referrals that come from clients are a great way to give you qualified and warm leads. This is because these leads know exactly what to expect from you.

Working with other small businesses

You can also think about working with other small businesses, both unofficially and officially. In fact, this is a pretty good option. It could be a vendor or even another business that shares the same target audience as you. Some of the strategies that you can use in order to make collaborations and partnerships flexible and successful would be:

• Setting up a referral program where your current clients are able to get a piece of the cut
• Package deals being offered together
• Giving prizes for social media contests where both the parties make equal contributions so that the prizes become more valuable.

We would like to thank for participating in this article and sharing their insight.…

The new millennium has been full of tremendous advertising campaigns, which have a universal aspect, and that is how to connect with the target to which they are directed efficiently.

Previously, ads tried to persuade people through information, by showing them data that demonstrated the efficiency of the product or service that any company sold. That is being increasingly relegated due to all the contributions provided by the so-called storytelling.

storytelling

Storytelling is not other than telling history in a specific way that manages to resonate in the psyche of people and thus get them to buy what you sell or trust with your brand. The task of creating effective storytelling is under the responsibility of the creative editor of your marketing team , but for that professional to build a story that meets your goal, it is necessary that the company is transparent and willing to connect with your audience .

If you want to know more about how to make effective storytelling for your company, we advise that you follow all the tips that we will reveal below. By applying each one of them, you will get the necessary tools to put together a story that appeals to the feelings of your consumers and thus make your brand more successful commercially.

Focus on a primary theme: Concision when it comes to telling stories is one of the most important things, because missing it, you lose the thread that connects all the elements and only creates confusion in the viewer, a result that surely You do not want. To get focused on a primary theme, the first thing you should do is to know your objective, in this way you can define better what you want to tell and how you want to do it.

In general, the themes on which the storytelling focuses are: Life and death, arrival and departure, love and hate, good and evil, security and fear, truth and lies, strength and weakness, hope and despair, among many others; This is because they are the ones that commonly create a reaction in people and invite them to take action.

Approaches that leave their mark: While it is true that each head is a world, and therefore people are very different from each other, there are certain events that are present in the life of anyone to a greater or lesser extent, but that in one way or another leaves a trace. A typical example of this is the first love, or the first kiss to synthesize the idea further. Focus the storytelling of your brand on a fact like that, and that also goes according to your image, presents you like a more honest brand and also allows you to win the empathy of your consumers.

Include points of references: The reference points are events, phrases or other factors that are already implanted in the imaginary of the target you are targeting, are part of their culture or that of their environment and that is why when you notice them in an advertisement you feel more own. Including this type of elements in your storytelling is ideal for customer loyalty, especially for brands that are just born and want to grow the number of consumers who buy their products or services.

Keep a clear structure: If your company is now using tools such as storytelling in your advertising, the best act you can do is maintain a clear structure that serves as parameters to tell the message. That structure must contain a beginning, the development of the plot, a peak that concentrates the greater emotional load that you want to transmit, and to finish an ending that intrigue or leave the audience excited.

Do not skimp on details: Finally we advise you to integrate as many features in your storytelling that you think possible, since these elements really enrich all the work. The reinforcement of your story will always be the image that will transmit through digital or traditional media, that’s why the details are essential to give a more real character to all your work.

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