Finding new and inexpensive ways to get clients is on the mind of every business owner, but which path is the most effective? There are many powerful, affordable and creative ways to get new clients.
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Advertise your business using Search Engine Marketing (SEM). SEM involves increasing the visability of your website on a search engine, such as a Google Search. When a search is performed, the list of websites and the order that these websites appear is based on the keywords that are typed when performing the search.
Search Engine Marketing is comprised of many further online advertising techniques, such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click Advertising. Based on the implementation of these methods, your website can increase in ranking on the Organic Search section of the search engine (in other words, appear higher up on the Organic Search when performing a search on a search engine, such as Google) OR can appear as a Sponsored Links. When using the Google search engine, you can increase your ranking on the Organic Search listing by performing Search Engine Optimization (SEO). You can increase your ranking on the Sponsored Links listing using Google Adwords.
Please click on the picture icon below to see example of the Organic Search and a Sponsored Links sections on a Google Search page results:
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Alternatively, place an advertise on other relevant websites. A link to your website is posted on the website of other sites, which relate to the product or service that your business offers. In this form of marketing, you are only charged when a prospective client clicks your posted ad and is directed to your site, providing your business with a sales lead. This feature is available through several providers, the most popular of which is Google Adsense.
More information about Online Advertising:
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Market Research can be used for more than just gathering information about your target market (which is also very important). It can also be used to expose your products or services to a wide audience. By offering an online market research survey, not only do you learn more about what your target market desires, but you also expose your business to your target market in a non-obtrusive way. Today, market research surveys can best be conducted online, with detailed reports to learn as much as you can about your target market.
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Direct Marketing is a great way to expose your business through flyers, postcards or letters to a large audience. It is a chance to creatively capture the attention of prospective customers through professional graphics and a well written copy. Direct Marketing campaigns can either be delivered within a certain geographical radius or to specific addresses. If delivered to specific addresses, there are several programs available to attain sales lead addresses for consumers and businesses that fit your desired target market demographic.
Make sure to always include your website address on your direct marketing material. If you have any concerns about the professional look of your website, please see the section on being innovative.
More information about Direct Marketing:
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- Create a Direct Marketing Campaign (Canada Only)
- Canada Post - Direct Marketing Online
- Raymond Scholz - Illustration & Graphic Design
- Kick Designz
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Business Networking Associations
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In the GTA, there are many business associations that are dedicated to helping entrepreneurs like you. Joining these associations is a great way to collaborate with other business owners and expose your business to many prospective clients. These associations also offer services to assist business owners in many facets of their business, such as seminars on how to improve closing sales transactions.
More information about Business Associations:
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- Popular Business Associations in Toronto:
- Books on how-to Network:
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Writing articles on topics related to the products or services that you sell is an excellent, inexpensive way to gain exposure to your business. There are many e-newsletters, blogs and internet forums that are eager to have guest article submissions. Other publication resources include magazines and newspapers. At the end of the article, you are allowed to include your name, your company and usually brief blurb about your business.
When you write an article of interest relating to your industry, it positions you as an expert in the industry and provides exposure your business. The key is writing for a publication with an audience that would be most interested in the products or services that you sell.
More information on Publishing Articles:
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- Create your own e-newsletter
- Create your own blog
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Social Networks, like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn are the hottest things right now in marketing and they're just at the beginning of their domination. Not only are social networks a free way to promote your business, this is the quickest means of spreading information in history. It utilizes a marketing technique known as a Viral Expansion Loop. It's a business owner's dream come true. The top companies are looking for ways to promote their business using this incredible device. So, how can YOU use Social Networks to better market your product or service? Here is an example of one way:
On Facebook, create a ' facebook group' that relates to the product that you are selling. For example, if your business sells shoes, create a group called 'Can't get enough of designer shoes'. This group would outline your new product line as well as company information. Then, invite everyone who would be interested in the group. Chances are that the people that you know who like shoes will know many more people who also like shoes and they will know many more other people who also like shoes and so on. That's the beauty of the social network: it connects everyone to create a community. If the subject matter of the group strikes a particular interest with people, discussion forums may start on the group and spread even wider interest. You can get a massive number of people to join the group in a very short time. In this way, your business is exposured to potentially 1000s of prospective clients in a short period of time and it cost nothing!
More information on Social Networks:
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- Popular Social Networks:
- Facebook
- MySpace
- LinkedIn
- Ning
- Create your own Social Network
- Books on Social Networks:
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Last Updated: Friday, October 9th, 2009
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