Business Stuff - Marketing

So I have started reading a great business book - 


The Vibe - Gary Bertwistle Buy the book

The marketing handbook for every product,
service and industry.

While most companies claim to have a brand, only a few make an authentic connection with customers or clients. The rest simply have a logo that gets slapped on to the side of a truck or onto a shirt. Today it's brands that will thrive and survive, and to build a brand, you need to create the right vibe around your business.

In The Vibe, Gary shares his secrets, stripping away the jargon and highlighting the essential thinking required before you spend time, money and energy on promotion and advertising. Whether you're a commercial, industrial, retail or service company, this book gives you the tools to create a powerful brand in the minds of your customers.

Easy to understand, practical and relevant for businesses of all sizes, with real examples of Australian businesses
- The Vibe is what every brand needs!

I will post more once i get more of the way through the book - Im only up to the second chapter but loving every word of it. I guess Im liking it so much because usually all the marketing books I read, seem to be overseas based - this one has great Australian business examples. 

Some Quick Marketing Tips

Starting your own small business may seem hard and daunting at first, but never give up!!

Taking tips and tricks from others who have tried and tested methods of doing business will always help you along in some way or another.

Some good starting points for marketing follow, please feel free to add or comment on this post the more the merrier!

1. Have a visible storefront location with good foot traffic (online or offline) - people need to know who and where you are - dont make them come looking for you because chances are they wont bother if they have to put in too much effort.
   

2. Know who your customers are or who you want to be your customers - how can you market to them if you dont know the answer to this point!
   

3. Develop a customer referral or appreciation program - I always find it a good thing to give away samples or include samples in orders, just to give clients a taste of your other products.
   

4. Sponsor local community events - more specifically for beauty, try and sponsor bikini competitions, have open nights at your salon to get customers in to try new products
   

5. Send out regular press releases about products/services or local involvement - if you collect peoples email addresses and have asked permission to use them, then do it - send monthly email updates with news and new products
   

6. Join a professional organization or networking group - join as many groups that will promote each other as possible - remember what goes around comes around. If you like another business or company give them a shout out, it may result in a great business relationship!
   

7. Develop a web site (or if that is your storefront, join link/banner exchanges) - everyone has the net these days, you would be mad not to get some sort of exposure happening even if its a simple facebook page!
   

8. Keep your web site fresh with new and rich content and/or functionality - if it doesnt interest the customer on the front page chances are they wont delve much further.
   

9. Advertise where your customers are watching, not where you watch - I believe any advertisement is good advertisement - if you get asked to do a free gig of some sort ask the organiser if you can give out brochures or flyers. Again its give and take
   

10. Do not be afraid to try something new - you will be remembered if you are different and creative - make a lasting impression.