Small Business Marketing

In the overall business plan for a small company or startup, the small business marketing strategy is crucial. Unlike large corporations that may have millions of advertising dollars at their disposal, the small business owner must usually stick to a limited budget and plan all costs down to the last nickel. In this situation, equal parts of creativity and commonsense are needed in order to come up with a plan that works...

Developing a Marketing Plan
A small business marketing plan is essential for any startup. Indeed, the marketing plan should be fully formed and ready to institute before the business is ready to open. Among the items that a marketing plan must address are: who is the target audience, how to reach the target audience and how to contend with the local competition. Sample marketing plans and tips for creating them are widely available on the internet.

Traditional Marketing Strategies
The small business marketing strategy should include the ways in which traditional marketing and promotional methods will be implemented. Advertising - print, radio, and television - is one of the most effective and powerful marketing tools. Postcards, flyers, telephone directory entries, billboards and commercials all serve keep the business's name visible. An alternate method of marketing is the initiation of face-to face contact with members of the target audience. The prospect of approaching potential customers directly may be a bit intimidating, but cold calling - telephone and door-to-door- is a proven method of reaching consumers.

Inexpensive Marketing Strategies
Most small businesses, especially startups, have to adhere to strict budgets. When more traditional methods of advertising are not affordable, then the small business marketing plan must include some very inexpensive options. Direct mail advertising costs can be cut by including promotional material along with invoices and product shipments. Including promotional information at the bottom of a printed receipt or as part of an email signature is also a low-cost method of reaching consumers.