You know that I’ve been a small business owner for more than two decades. Most small business owners look at marketing as an expense. I certainly fell into this category in the early going.
This thinking is wrong. It does not get many of us very far when we’re trying to grow our businesses.
They call it an expense… I call it an investment
In most cases, the biggest advantage small biz owners have is the relationships we build and nurture with our customers, prospects, and centers of influence.
Marketing is not about ‘selling’… well, okay, it’s a little about selling. But, if you’re thinking of the bigger picture, your marketing efforts are relationship building tools, not an expense,
You’re going about it all wrong when we think of things in terms of “cost” i.e. money rather than real “value”.
In case you’re still thinking of marketing as an expense – not the investment that it is – here are a few powerful, inexpensive things you can be doing to grow your business.
- Use free publicity - It costs you nothing, builds credibility, and awareness. Seek out opportunities to be involved with community activities, local events, local charities, etc.
- Get your business on the web - Create a website. Create a Facebook page for your business. These are very cost-effective ways of letting people know about you, your products and services.
- Networking - Networking is the most effective way to meet people. People like to do business with others they know, like, and trust. The key here is to bring something of value to the person that can refer business to you.
Of the three, networking is the best. It costs time. You know how I feel about time, the most valuable resource we have. Done correctly, you will quickly see a great ROI.
Take advantage of these three easy things you can be doing that don’t “cost” anything that will help you grow your business.