40 Marketing Ideas and a Mule

40 Low Budget Marketing Ideas and a Mule:

1. Join every social networking website you can find. www.biznik.com is a great start
    
2. Attend every conference, luncheon, happy hour, and trade show for all industries you serve
    
3. Press Releases to every editor of every publication in your area. Write the story yourself and find that lazy editor who will edit and send to print.
    
4. Get certified in your specialty and then brag to everyone who knows you and everyone you don’t
    
5. Volunteer on association committees and attend the meetings
    
6. Send a personal note to every new contact you have met in the last month – hand written speaks words
    
7. Research the awards and promotions given to your client and send a congratulations
    
8. Speak at professional conferences
    
9. Meet with non-competing vendors who serve the same clientele
    
10. Bring TFP! (tasty food products)
     
11. Send thank you notes to clients who chose your competition and thank them for the opportunity to earn their business
     
12. Send Cards for Every Holiday you can imagine- St Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Ground Hogs Day, Leap Day…etc.
     
13. Send recipe cards for great food products on special days – A love potion cocktail on Valentines
     
14. Send Birthday cards on a company’s birthday to everyone you know – they will be surprised its their birthday
     
15. Change up your marketing materials with unique attention grabbers. Candy inside the envelope, Triangle shaped brochure. Don’t be afraid to mix it up.
     
16. Send postcards while you are on vacation.
     
17. Publish your own newsletter
     
18. Send pictures of your support staff – let your clients know who they are talking to
     
19. Buy company t-shirts for everyone you know- even your clients
     
20. Write News worthy articles and have them published relating to your field
     
21. Create personalized letterheads and business cards for your clients with their names on it
     
22. Develop a Frequently Asked Question for your business
     
23. Case studies of your businesses value added services to past clients
     
24. Reference letters, reference letters, and did I mention…reference letters
     
25. Create a posting on Wikipedia.org about your business
     
26. Post contact information and business cards on public bulletin boards
     
27. Create an award for your suppliers for referrals and good service
     
28. Serve as an advisor at a community college or charity
     
29. Collect and publish testimonials
     
30. Write and publish position papers on your website.
     
31. Pass out business cards like candy on Halloween
     
32. Open up a conversation on a plane with the passenger next to you.
     
33. Finder’s fee offering for colleagues
     
34. Create a marketing theme and have all of your client contact be based on the theme. 08’ Olympics, High Gas prices, Summer Time,
     
35. Always check Commerce Journals in your area for action in your market and respond accordingly
     
36. At a presentation have a business card drawing at the end for a fun prize, follow up with everyone who gave you a card with a thank you note.
     
37. Make administrative personnel feel special with flowers, candy, thank you notes, and fun mailings
     
38. Send industry related articles to clients with a hand written note
     
39. Buy a magazine subscription for your client tailored to their hobbies.
     
40. Review all quarterly reports and news about clients and use that in focused marketing and conversations

The Mule: Cold Call every prospect you have. Set a goal and a personal reward- like 20 calls earns a pint of Dead Guy Ale from Rogue Brewery. But 2 calls earns you a Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Now get Out there and start getting known.