Press releases are one type of promotion for small businesses.
Small businesses can use many different promotional ideas to market products and services. The key is tying the promotions vehicle directly to your company objectives. Use promotional programs that you can afford and implement fairly quickly. Different promotional ideas will work more successfully with certain products. For example, product demonstrations may be highly effective with a technical product like a computer.
Advertising Specialties
Advertising specialties are one type of small business promotion. Advertising specialties are small gifts that companies can put its logo on and give away to customers or employees. Examples of advertising specialties include key chains, mugs, calendars, pens and small staplers. You can use advertising specialty gifts to thank your customers, according to marketing expert Evan Carmichael. For example, send customers a calendar at the beginning of the year with your company name, address and phone number on it. Business owners are likely to use calendars, or post them somewhere. The calendar can serve as a constant reminder of your business.
Sponsorships
Sponsorships can be used to increase awareness of your brand or company name. You do not have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a sponsorship. Sponsor a kids' little league team, as your name will appear on all the kids' uniforms. Increase the exposure of your small business by sponsoring a major local event, such as 10 kilometer race or town fair. You can also partially invest in a regional event such as a race or charitable function.
Customer Loyalty Program
Customer loyalty programs can work well to build customer traffic and sales. The best way to start a customer loyalty program is to print up some small cards. Fold the cards in half. Print the name of your business on the front of the card. Provide a section inside the card to stamp or hole-punch when customers visit your store or establishment. Reward customers with coupons and freebies the more they patronize your business. Customer loyalty programs work best for small businesses that generate lots of traffic, such as restaurants or movie theaters. Start your customer loyalty program out by having customers fill out applications. Set up a display in your business that promotes the customer loyalty program.
Press Releases
Press releases can be used to promote new products, such as books, cell phones or computer software. A press release is usually a one-page announcement about a product or service. The press release is a quasi news story that is written in third person, discussing the benefits of a product or company. Avoid writing your release like a self-promotion or advertisement, as the news agency will decline it. Instead, include your name and website at the bottom of the press release for people to reference. Send your press release to local newspapers, or submit to a newswire service like Prweb.com, Prnewswire.com or Businesswire.com.
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