Small Business Marketing Strategies You Should Not Forget!

Ever since the Internet has expanded the world of marketing, some traditional marketing methods have been left behind. Has this happened because traditional marketing strategies are no longer effective? Like most successful entrepreneurs and professionals I would say “No.” Digital marketing may seem fast, easy and sophisticated, but you should never underestimate or overlook the following traditional forms of business marketing.

Six proven, but not-to-be-forgotten traditional marketing tactics:

• Conventional business cards – Business cards might seem low on your list of marketing tactics, but they should be at the top of your list. Most of today’s successful business people started out will business cards and built their marketing strategies from there. Having cards made to promote your business should be the first thing you do. Always carry some with you everywhere you go.
• Newspaper advertising – Another promotional avenue that has been almost completely forgotten is placing newspaper ads. The newspaper business is still alive and well even in today’s digital world. You can use ads with discounts or coupons for a limited time to attract business using local newspapers. Nowadays when you place an ad, it often is included in the digital edition of the newspaper as well.
• Specialty advertising – If you talk to a qualified business mentor Sydney service provider, they will tell you how important it is to use specialty advertising methods. This encompasses advertising forms like refrigerator magnets, t-shirts, pens, mugs, and calendars. Most entrepreneurs today fail to realize the value in having their brand on a magnet, a mug, a pen, a calendar, or a t-shirt. These are like gifts to clients and potential clients as well as reminders that you are there.
• Printed Brochures – You might be thinking brochures are old-fashioned and passé, but they are simply a forgotten, yet effective way to provide your audience with an overview of your products and services. This marketing method is not expensive, but can be quite effective.
• Signs – People still read signs, especially when they are visually appealing. Your business needs a sign over the door, on your business vehicle, on local billboards, and anywhere signs are found. Signs can also promote specific products, services, or prices. Signs are bought once and will last for many years, making this form of advertising a good investment.
• Printed Sales Materials – Catalogs, product specification sheets, price lists, and sales sheets are all examples of printed sales materials. They provide your customers with details and information needed to make informed decisions about making a purchase. You might be surprised at how effective this is at helping someone choose you over your competitors.

All these simple forms of advertising may seem antiquated to you, but there is nothing antiquated about how well they help grow your business. Online marketing, websites, and social media marketing are fun and exciting, but they work better when you incorporate these tried-and-true methods with your current digital marketing strategies.

If you think you could benefit from business advice or coaching, contact me now. You can avoid the pitfalls and challenges of starting and maintaining your small business with a little help.

Here’s something that changed the way I think forever!You see, for many years I was driven to make more money. Don’t get me wrong, I still love making money. However, I learned something along the way that change me in a very profound way. I realised that the money (Profits) came to me much easier, if I loved and believed in why I was doing what I was doing. Pinpoint the “Why” of Your Business – Vision & Purpose Many people would say the primary objective of any business is to earn a profit; that without profit, nothing else is possible for a business. However, more and more this view is outdated as the entrepreneurial spirit – the urge to combine what we love to do with earning a living – overtakes the simple profit-driven business model. Small business owners not only desire to earn a living, they have a vision of a problem they can solve in a unique way that truly serves their fellow man. This drive to help, to make an impact on the world, transforms a business into a mission-oriented organization. A mission-oriented business has a purpose that gives meaning to even the most mundane tasks. Keeping this mission part of day-to-day activities increases the success factor for businesses – the mission drives all facets of operations, from product creation to employee morale and consumer relations. Here are 3 businesses that grew out of their missions: All three of these companies are stellar examples of this mission-oriented business model. TOMS – Founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie when he realised that so many children did not have proper  shoes to protect their feet, TOMS sends one pair of shoes to a person in need for every pair purchased by a consumer. This is consistent with their “One For One” vision. Patagonia – This company has been around since 1985 and has donated 1% of their total sales or 10% of their profit, whichever is the largest, to grassroots environmental groups every year since it was founded. Whole Foods – A chain of natural foods supermarkets that sells products such as poultry and meat that are free of antibiotics and growth hormones, unprocessed grains and cereals, and other organic, natural foods. These companies all have used their beliefs to create meaning and purpose. Not only does this help keep employees motivated, purpose inspires customers to purchase their products even if there are less expensive options. For example, many customers happily purchase one or more pairs of TOMS shoes a year because they know that for every pair they buy a pair is being donated to a child in need. A purpose-driven business creates a better world. To keep your business’s purpose honed and clear at all times, owners and executives should regularly ask themselves the following questions: Ask These Questions What is our noblest purpose and are we achieving it? How can we give employees a greater sense of meaning in their work, so that they are more enthusiastic about coming into work every day? How can we participate in improving our world and ensure that we do less harm? These 3 questions get to the heart of the “why” that drives all business decisions. Answering them is a great exercise to do when you need some inspiration and motivation as a business owner! Have fun and as always, I wish you all the success in the world.

When I was young I like many dreamed of being a professional athlete;
I did achieve modest success gaining my black belt in full contact martial arts and being a state champion goal keeper in Soccer.
However I never really made it to the money making heights that I would have liked.

I realised I needed a plan B.
After studying hard and surrounding myself with great Mentors and Coaches I went on to achieve huge success in Business and that’s where the money was…

Many people choose small business and the entrepreneurial life believing it will give them a wonderful life, yet they never receive the help they deserve to gain great success.
Having lived and breathed an athlete’s mindset, I know what it takes to be successful and I now share a lot of that wisdom through my Coaching programs.
Here are the top 3 things that athletes know before they even step foot into the business world.

1. Sticking to that vision!
Athletes are taught from the beginning to envision what they want.
They want to win of course; they want to be the best of course.
Past this vision is actually seeing themselves there.
There is no plan B taught in sports when you have a vision.
There is only success. An athlete will do whatever it takes in order to achieve that vision or success in the long run.

Q. Are you doing whatever it takes to win?

2. Focusing on the end result!
Individual’s business get side tracked easily: when a phone rings, an email dings, or there is a knock at the office door.
With an athlete, it is different. An athlete is taught from early on to block out distractions and focus on the big finale at the end of the game.
That does not include stopping and starting on projects it means keeping at it until it is completed.

Q. What is your end game?

3. Being passionate will always go farther!
People are right when they say there is nothing better than being at the top, of course.
However those that have been knocked down a thousand times and still got back up will remain at the top much longer than those that have not had these kinds of experiences.
That is what passion is all about. Being able to believe in yourself and love what you do so much that you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue on your path to success.

Q.When you get knocked down will you get up?

As a small business owner, you can always look at it this way: while you are working late hours to learn your craft, nine chances out of ten your competition thinks they already know it all and are fast asleep.
Take this time to learn more, so that you can become more!