4 Ways to Advertise a Small Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Affordable advertising--
Svilen001

Advertising your small business on a budget can be challenging. However, advertising can be done on a budget, but it requires some time on your part. Here are four options you may want to consider that are inexpensive and effective. 

Get Listed Electronic Directories

Electronic directories are a good place to list your business, some of them are free, and they let you write about your small business. Write an attention grabbing headline. List your business in the Yellow Pages. 

Classified Advertising

Advertise your small businesses in the classified section of newspapers or magazines. Classified ad charges are based on the number of lines, and on the number of words.  Classified ads are inexpensive and effective.

Door Hangers

Write an ad and target the market that you want. For example, if you have a landscaping business you might want to target a high-end housing district. Door hangers are another inexpensive way to advertise your business they are affordable and effective.

Postcards

Postcard advertising is ideal for the small business owner on a budget. You can print labels on your computer; the other side of the postcard should have an offer, for example, announce a sale, a discount, or two for the price of one. Create a tempting offer, and it should improve your response rate. 

Read more »

Sample Business Proposal

By Lanee’ Blunt

Write your business proposal--
oki975

An outline helps you prepare the information that needs to go into the proposal. You must have a clear understanding of the business proposals objectives, technical scope, and cost. The proposal must convince the evaluators that you are familiar with their requirements and that you can do the work in a timely manner. Use your letterhead stationary.

Executive summary section states why the evaluators should use your company. Write an excellent reason why they should choose your company over the competition. Tell the evaluators how you are going to do the requested work.

Answer the topics in the same sequence in the request for proposal RFP. Answer all of the “major topic questions” in essay form. 

Benefits or “Services provided section. What are the benefits of using your business? The customer is interested in what you can do for them. Focus on the highlights of your small business. The evaluators want to know about projects that you have done that are similar to this project.

Write the “cost information” section and include the final price. Identify the goals that you want achieved. Stress the benefits of the finished plan including the evaluation.

State in the proposal a timeline and schedule for your completion dates. Write the date that the work will be finished.

Reference:

Onvia: First Steps to a Winning Proposal

Findfrp: How to Write Proposal

Read This Next

How to Create a Company Logo

How to Make Your Own Company Letterhead on Microsoft Publisher

How to Build a Business Referral Program

Small Business Advertising

Online Marketing Advantages

Direct Mail Leads

Read more »

Examples of a Business Proposal

By Lanee’ Blunt

Have a clear understanding of your objectives when preparing the proposal. A business proposal is used for bidding on a RFP, asking for funding, or used to persuade potential clients or customers to support the proposal financially. Focus on how your business intends to achieve the client’s goal and meet their objectives. Write from an outline. Deconstruct the request for proposal (RFP) to develop the outline before you begin writing.

Deconstruct the Request for Proposal (RFP). Go over the RFP sentence-by-sentence and make sure that you understand what it is requesting in order to build an outline to write your proposal. Explain important and unimportant clauses in the statement of work.

Write a project summary or executive summary it is a brief summary of the project. Explain why your business is best for the contract. Explain if your firm is a member of an organization.

Qualifications information. Explain all of the similar types of contracts that you have handled. State the size, the number of participants, or amount of assets.  Give the evaluator references from similar contracts that you have done.

Time of completion. What are your deadline dates? Include dates by which you proposed to complete the job. Write the cost information section and provide the proposed price.

Reference

Fedmarket: Proposal Writing: The Devil is in the Detail

A Cleaning Bid: Construction Site Clean Up Projects

Entrepreneur; How to Write an Effective Proposal; Barry Farber; 2004

Read This Next

How to Create a Company Logo

How to Make Your Own Company Letterhead on Microsoft Publisher

How to Build a Business Referral Program

Small Business Advertising

Online Marketing Advantages

Direct Mail Leads

Read more »

How to Advertise a Cleaning Service

By Lanee’ Blunt

Advertise your cleaning service--
Image by Google images.

Having several ads on television may be out of reach for most cleaning services. Most cleaning businesses are on a budget and must make their money go further, and make their ads work harder. Your advertising efforts will position your company name in the customer’s mind so when they think of hiring a cleaning service they’ll call you. Small business advertising can be done on a budget it will require time on your part, but it will be worth the effort.

Business Cards

They are an important marketing tool because you can make them a mini ad by listing some of your services that you offer.  Always carry them with you and give people at least 2 or 3 so they can refer you to others.

Website

Create a company website so that customers can research your company information. Write helpful articles that will drive traffic to your site.

Directories

Get your company listed in the Yellow Pages. Electronic directories are a good place to have a business listed; some are free and will let you include a profile about your company.

Magnetic Sign

Use a magnetic vehicle sign. Include your company information, your website address, and phone number.

Postcards

Advertise with direct mail postcards. Get a mailing list. Write a headline that will attract attention for example, “Cleaning at Affordable Prices. I Guarantee Your Satisfaction.” Include a photo of you and your crew. Show the prices of your service.

Reference:

Office Cleaning Business: How to Advertise a Cleaning Business?

Print Label and Mail: Direct Mail Advertising Ideas for a Cleaning Service; Jim Negron


Read This Next

Postcard Marketing Tips

Market Your Business By Email

How to Advertise a Small Business Online

Read more »

How to Advertise Your Plumbing Business

By Lanee’ Blunt

Advertising your plumbing business on a budget is possible. Advertising is about ideas and what strategy you are going to take. You can market your plumbing business by applying innovative, cost-efficient advertising techniques that makes you stand out from your competition.

Postcards

Advertise your plumbing business with postcards. Get a mailing list. Write a headline for the postcard that will gain attention. Think about all of the services that you provide to customers such as, upgrading bathroom fixtures, changing a faucet, installing a water line for an automatic ice maker, and plumbing problems. Tell them about your service.

Flyer

Pass out fliers if you are on a budget. They are inexpensive to use and they are effective. Tell about your service. Stress benefits of using your plumbing business. Write your contact information, name, title, website, phone, address and email address. Have the flyer printed professionally by a printer because it makes your business look professional and appear more established.

Directories

Buy ad placements in directories. Get your plumbing business listed in the Yellow Pages. Buy Adwords and list your plumbing business in online advertisements, and electronic directories.

Pass out your business cards.  Start a website and include your logo. List your prices of the services that you offer. Give your customers an idea of the cost of your service, for example, faucet replacement $89.00. Most customers will see the price and think I didn't know it was that reasonable, but there are some that will think the price is high, but listing the price will pre-qualify the customer before they call you.

Reference:

Print Label and Mail: Direct Mail Advertising Ideas for Plumbers; Jim Negron

Read This Next

Postcard Marketing Tips

Market Your Business By Email

How to Advertise a Small Business Online

Read more »

Create a Marketing Brochure for a Consultant Service

By Lanee’ Blunt

Creating a brochure is very important. All small businesses need sales material so that you can make a connection with your clients and close the sale. The brochure offers prospects a detailed look at your service, a description of a product or service and enough information to be able to order something or hire you.

The Strategy

Your strategy should begin with understanding your target audience and what they want from you. Decide where you have an edge by studying your competition. Have a plan before you start to write it, to drive home your selling points.

Explain What the Service Is

Explain completely what your service is about.  What do you offer the client that is different from your competition? What are the types of accounts you handle? All of the services offered by your firm should be written in detail descriptions explaining how the service works.

Ask for the Order

Tell the reader what the next step will be. What action do you want them to take, telephone, credit card or check, or go to your website. Always include a clear call to action in your brochure.

Don’t wait until the last minute to create a brochure. You will have limited time to create one when you are trying to win a bid, or when a prime prospect asks for more information on your service. Whether consumers are buying a car or hiring an accountant they still like to glance through a brochure.

Reference:

Kenneth Roman, Jane Mass, and Martin Nisenholtz; How to Advertise; 2003



 Read This Next

How to Create a Company Logo


How to Make Your Own Company Letterhead on Microsoft Publisher


How to Build a Business Referral Program

Read more »

How to Create a Small Business Website Home Page

By Lanee’ Blunt

A website home page is where you will address your customers and prospects and where customers come to learn more about your small business. This gives you an opportunity to sell to your prospects. Content is the most important thing about your website. It should look good but it should also help sell your product or service.

“Web developers are concerned with layout and graphics that serve primarily to make the website more readable and not the key drivers. Strip away the bells and whistles that web developers design with flash presentation, rich media and there is no sale,” according to Robert Bly in his book The Online Copywriter’s Handbook.

A home page should tell the customer about your small business. Know your audience and think in terms of why they are coming to your website, and what are they coming to learn about your small business.

Write a killer headline for your home page. Your headline is very important and you must give a lot of thought to it. You must attract attention and interest to your home page. People are always in a hurry and they are not going to read your business talk unless you make it worth their while and let the headline attract their attention.

Write about the benefits of using your product or service. How does your service solve problems? Do you give a money back guarantee; are you cheaper than the competition?

Reference:

Robert W. Bly; The Online Copywriter’s Handbook; McGrall

Claude Hopkins; Scientific Advertising; Cosimo Classics



Read This Next


Documents Required Opening a Sole Proprietorship


How to Work With Wholesale Suppliers


How to Start a Copywriting Business


Start Your Own Online Store


How to Start a Consulting Business

Read more »

Postcard Marketing Tips

By Lanee’ Blunt

Postcard marketing works if it is done the right way. Postcard advertising is ideal for the small business owner on a budget. You have a better chance of getting the postcard read because it has no envelope. It is important that you know your market because you can have the best laminated postcard, with graphics design and if your mailing list is wrong you won’t profit from the campaign.

The Offer

The postcard should have an offer.  What does your company offer the prospect?  Your response rate will be much higher if your small business has an offer.  You might offer free shipping, or a special bonus offer, or a discount on your service.

The Mailing List

Purchase a mailing list from a list broker or media company to use for a specified length of time, or for a certain number of communications. Know your audience before you order your mailing list. It is important that you are clear about your best customers and then try and clone them. The best lists available to you will be your house list.  A house list consists of customers and people that have already responded to your ads and have bought from you in the past.

Expense

The cost is low, here in the USA; postage for a postcard is about $0.28 opposed to $0.44 for a first class envelope. You don’t have to send a lot of postcards at one time, and if you have a new prospect then them a postcard.



Read This Next


Direct Marketing


Product Branding Principles


Principles of the Marketing Mix

Read more »

Market your Business by Email

By Lanee’ Blunt

Email marketing can be used by small business to try and acquire new customers, encourage customer loyalty, and get existing customers to buy from you again. It has the ability to build brand awareness and loyalty by providing customers with the information that interest them about your product or service. The internet is an effective way to reach your customers.

Email Letter

An email marketing letter is a good way to market your small business. You don’t want to send spam, but a sales letter that will be effective.  Write a marketing letter that will get your foot in the door and get your product sold.  Email marketing letters are successful if handled properly.

Newsletter

Give your prospect a lot of useful information. Offer the customer detailed information about your business.  Write helpful articles about your line of business, or interview some of your employees. You can get a lot of information into your newsletter, far more than you can a brochure.

Create an incentive for signing up for your email newsletter.  Give them some benefits for receiving an email newsletter, for example, by stressing the great information they will be receiving from it.

Advertise in Newsletters

Not interested in sending out your own email newsletter. You can find newsletters that are published by others and pay for advertising in their newsletter that they email and send to subscribers. Some newsletters are created just for the purpose of selling advertising space to other firms.

Read This Next

Direct Marketing

How to Use Postcards to Advertise a Business


How to Make a Flyer

Read more »