Plan a Marketing System That Really Works for 2010

Economic indicators are looking good for 2010, but are you prepared to take advantage of the green shoots? Find out how you can jumpstart your small business marketing in 2010.

Small businesses have an advertising disadvantage: they cannot afford the ad branding campaigns that the giant corporations have. While television and billboards don’t always work for the small to medium sized business, what can you do to improve your small business marketing system starting in 2010?

Local Branding Efforts

Although you may not have the budget of the Fortune 500 corporations, you can still perform branding efforts locally or regionally. Branding as part of a small business marketing mix helps get your business name recognized and will help potential customers think of you when they need your products or services.

However, branding does not have to be expensive. Be creative, and you can find sponsorship opportunities all around you. Sponsor local sports teams or performance productions. Offer a “Yelp” day where people who post reviews about your website can enjoy 10% off their meal. Whether you work with another local business for cross-promote your products or host a booth at a fair, you can find ways to spread your name amongst the local community.

As an example of a cheap branding marketing idea, Jobdango.com performed a branding effort a few years ago where they wrote their name in chalk on city sidewalks. Pedestrians saw the name everywhere, and the website was soon getting a number of hits from job seekers.

Develop Your Social Media Strategy

The 2009 holiday season proved that social media is a marketer’s playground. Both big and small businesses posted sales info and special deals via social media such as Twitter and Facebook, and their bottom lines are the better for doing so.

Get your social media strategy written down as a policy. Determine to sign up your business with social media sites. Small business marketing is free on social media. Your marketing ideas can include simple daily posts that do not have to be sales messages, but helpful ideas from which your followers can benefit. Include posts, pictures, article links, anything that can help you gain more followers and fans.

Prep the Video Cam

Video sharing sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and Google Video make it easy to post short video clips. Your stack of small business marketing ideas could include making a series of short videos where you provide helpful advice, education, and presentations to potential customers. Videos have become one of the best ways to establish yourself as an expert. Get onboard the YouTube express and start educating your customers in 2010.

Look Into Mobile Marketing

2009 holiday sales for mobile devices such as the iPhone and the new Droid topped the charts. Now with even more people using mobile devices, and more specifically, mobile browser searches, you have no reason to wait to join the mobile marketing gravy train. Small business marketing on mobile devices can be in the form of pay per click or pay per call listings. And other marketing ideas for mobile marketing include optimizing your website for easy mobile browser download, as well as using mobile links to attract mobile search customers.

2010 is looking to be a profitable year for small businesses. Economic indicators are pointing toward a brighter future, including higher consumer confidence and increased business spending. Get creative with your small business marketing for 2010 and help your small business grow.

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