Improve Market Share Without Spending A Penny

Developing a marketing plan is a great starting point for survival in these difficult times. Without a plan, organizations don’t have a chance of staying alive. Take the time to sit down with your team and come up with an approach to attack new markets and meet new people.

1. Create Your Web Plan and Marketing Content

   Before building or renovating your web site, you should identify how your web site fits into your marketing strategy. Clarify and delineate the actions you want visitors to take and how to structure your site to get prospects to contact you and buy your products and services.

   Organize site content and pages to mirror prospects' decision-making process, moving them step-by-step towards a sale. Write content that motivates prospects to continue reading and browsing your site and includes appropriate use of keywords to help boost your search engine rankings.

 Get in touch with your loyal (and solvent) customers. Immediately! Anticipate how the troubled economy might affect them, because it will. Preempt trouble and engender even deeper loyalty by crafting some new pricing schemes. Take another look at long-term contracts. Assuming they haven't fallen on especially hard times, find creative ways to allow valued customers to keep buying. Worse case scenario, accept products or services in lieu of payment. Above all, keep a positive attitude and serve your customer with a smile!

Here is the Marketing Monsters' list of the most important marketing tools to grow your business!

1. Business Cards

   Yes this is the #1 tool to capture more business. How does your card look? Is it professional, powerful and unique? Will it speak for you if you do not have time to sell yourself when you hand it out? Take time to analyze your card and use it as a mini-billboard with print on the front and back. Don't forget full color, it really makes an impression!