Marketing your Small Business, "Don't hate Wal-Mart....."

I would like to start this blog off by saying I am in no means an expert on anything when it comes to business,,,,there has been many trial and errors a long our way but I thought I would share a few tips that have been very beneficial to our small home based business.

Vinyl Lettering, an affordable way to advertise your business!

 

 

This is new for us, but I do believe this is one of the best advertisements you can have.  Everywhere you go you are marketing.....getting your name out in the public is vital to having a successful business.  So how do you do this?  I have found Facebook to be a GREAT way to get your name out there!  We run giveaways and have had a great success.  We have over 2,000 likes now, I never dreamed our little home based business would have this many likes (the town we live in only has 1,023 population!) Do I push it, YES sometimes I do.  Are we BUSY yes we are BUT it is because I stay consistent in posting and getting our name out there.  Don't feel as if you are going to bother people, they have hit like because they like your page.  Facebook has changed their policy with how many of your fans get to see your post (it's not very many)  So more than likely not even a fourth of your fans will see your post,,,,,so post away!  It's the only way for your fans to see what you have!

 

(1900 like giveaway done at RiOak)

Tip: Make your giveaways good this way people will share, the more people who share the more people see your post!

 

Tell PEOPLE!!  Do you know everywhere I go I leave a business card?  I love those places (farm stores, restaurants etc.) that have those bulletin boards by the bathrooms....you know the ones I am talking about?  I leave them everywhere!  On a number of occasions when I am in the check out line and buying supplies (paint, brushes, fabric and so on, AND so on)  more times than I can count I have had cashiers ask about what project I am doing.  Here is what I say...Marketing one on one,,,,short and sweet.  "Oh I am sign painter, I paint custom wood signs for people, are you on facebook?"  If they say yes, I hand them a business card and tell them, "Here check us out sometime, I have a variety of projects I have done for people."  If they say no, I still hand them a business card and say, "Our pictures of most of work is on facebook BUT if you need any type of custom gift for a wedding or baby shower we enjoy creating and even do free consultations."  Then I smile load my cart and walk off.  People don't care to hear about every detail, (I was a marketing director for a very short time...BUT what I learned was you have about 30 seconds to impress someone, if you don't capture them in the first 15 seconds you have lost them...make every second count).

 

CUSTOMER SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE.....the customer is always right!  Keep your customer's informed.  I have to admit with everything I have going on I sometimes don't communicate the best, but I strive to make happy customers, THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT IS WORD OF MOUTH!  I had a customer call me and order a sign because someone had brought one of my signs into WalMart and they had seen it.....asked for the business card on the sign and then she called me...WOW there's those business cards again. 

 

MAKE A GOOD PRODUCT.  This will help the word of mouth.  People are willing to pay for good craftsmanship, AMERICAN made products.  Famous words of my husband, "If your going to do it, do it right."  We have improved our signs and improved our signs.  We always are looking for more ways to make a better quality sign and a sign that will last a lifetime (or at least as long as the person wants it in their home).  I love the words from customers, "It's better than I could have imagined."  I know when I have heard this statement it was a job well done.

 

 

It seems pretty simple....maybe easier said than done.

1. Let people know about you.

2. Social Media is great -Facebook, Pinterest, AND blogging.  GET OUT THERE

3. Great customer service.

4. A great product.

 

If you can do all four of these I believe you will have a successful business.  Keep in mind if you don't someone else will.  This is by no way the "Correct Formula" or everything it takes to have a great business but this is what has helped us so far.

 

 I think it is great to help promote other small home businesses but let's face it business is competitive and really it is cut throat.  You know why?  Money is involved.  I mean I seriously doubt K-Mart and Wal Mart share their ideas or "know how" with one another.  I realize this is on a big scale but I think we can learn from it.  I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite speakers, Dave Ramsey, "Don't hate Wal-Mart, Learn from them, they are marketing geniuses."  

 

 

Hope you all enjoyed some sunshine as me and my family did today, the Vitamin D was much needed!