Every business must have a comprehensive marketing plan that will demonstrate how the product or service you are selling benefits the customer's life. This plan includes all aspects of product research, consumer/market research, advertising and promotions/public relations.
Instructions
1. Know your product or service. The most important question to answer is, how much should you charge? You're in business to make money, so answering this question is key. A website like Entrepreneur can help you decide how much is generally charged for your particular service.
2. Know who your potential customers are and their interests. If, for example, you are selling bicycles, a website like the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's bicycle club listing can help you find riding clubs that you can contact with coupons, fliers or an offer for your bicycle shop to host a staging point for rides.
There are also social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace that have groups of people with like-minded interests in your area.
3. Get on the Web. In our technologically advanced society, Web-based advertising is an important part of any business' marketing efforts. Every business must have a website. For yours to stand out, Google Adwords offers an application that you can use to find the best keywords when you are setting up an advertising presence on the Web. Simply enter a word about your product or service, and examples of great keywords are provided. Use these words as often as possible on your website so when people search, your company is at the top of their search results.
4. Don't forget print. Small postcards, letters and direct mail pieces are still effective means of marketing. Vista Print is an affordable online marketing product service that can be used to design, print and mail your printed marketing pieces.
5. Promote yourself and your product or service. One of the most affordable means of marketing your company is good old-fashioned public relations. Writing press releases or feature articles for your local newspaper are tried-and-true methods of telling your company's story to potential customers. Paid advertising and marketing methods are viewed through a slightly skeptical lens because consumers know you paid for it. On the other hand, if they see a story in the local paper about your company (with appropriate photos), they are more apt to believe the story and feel that they know you and your company.
