Thursday, April 8, 2010

Quick, cheap and automated small business marketing ideas

Mail and Parcel stores,

Let's face it. You are extremely limited. There are only so many people in your geographical area who are in a position to visit your store - for any reason. Reaching out to them is time consuming and expensive. Offering the right set of products and services is vital.

I recommend that you join the local chamber of commerce and any other organization in your area where you can make yourself (and your store) known to your potential customers. Listen to what they are talking about and especially to what they are complaining about. Adapt your offerings at the store to fill niche voids. Every single store is unique.

You also have to advertise. Advertising is expensive and it's hard to choose where and how. A website is a cheap no-brainer, but just having a website is not enough. Get a Flip HD video camera (http://www.theflip.com/en-us/), record a video introducing yourself and walking around your store explaining all that you offer, and post it on www.youtube.com. Create a link to it from your website's home page. To track the effectiveness of the video, offer a discount on something if they mention your video.

Check out this FedEx video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-DmrgJHSM4&feature=youtu.be

Collect email addresses and use email marketing, it's nearly free and super-effective because the email addresses you have are one-time customers. Start an email newsletter even if you only send it out once per month.

E-mail, Direct Mail and Flyers directing people to your website is a good way to train people to look for your store on-line. After all, it's there 24 x 7.

Here are some interesting ideas and info I have found recently for marketing your business on the cheap and saving money, etc. Nothing beats a handshake though. Get out there!


Small Business Marketing http://bit.ly/cJpxWq

Direct Mail Marketing for Small Businesses | Hostway Web Resources http://bit.ly/cywkeq

Are You Ignoring Email Marketing Because of Social Media? http://bit.ly/aEt4Vv

31 Exceptional Strategies for Marketing to Today's Woman ... http://bit.ly/aOzfgp

Strategic Alliances: Deepen Online Connections Offline — Small ... http://bit.ly/9DhRVR

Sweet Spot Marketing: Successful Marketing Isn't Magic IT'S A SYSTEM http://bit.ly/c0iUSD

Email Marketing Levels Playing Field for Small Business | Business ... http://bit.ly/aw3HmU

Direct Mail Post Cards; Saving Time While Making Money http://bit.ly/bTCqHj

More effective marketing http://bit.ly/8XzvYe

Small Business Marketing Tips: Managing Contacts http://bit.ly/ds8MNB

The articles are to get me (and you) thinking about how to use the tools described. I don't endorse any particular vendor.


Cordially,

--Larry

Lawrence J. Riccitelli
REFUND TECHNOLOGY
Automatic Shipping Refunds
111 Ambassador Avenue
Warwick, RI 02889-1309
larry@refundtech.com
www.refundtech.com
www.refundtechnology1.com
Voice (401) 737-5055
Fax (401) 736-5858
Twitter: @refundtech

Tell a friend about Refund Technology.
Voted: "Best Business Service" - 2007 Associated Mail and Parcel Centers (ampc.org)

Visit us at:
The AMPC Annual Convention in Chicago, April 9, 2010
Annex Brands Trade Show in Las Vegas, April 23, 2010
The Association of Legal Administrators Annual Conference in Boston, May 6-9, 2010
The Retail Shippers Expo Trade Show in Dallas, July 16, 2010
Meet us at "IT"! The 2010 Auto Recyclers' Meet-up and Trade Show in Danville, VA, May 14th-15th