Posts Tagged ‘public relations’
by Carrie Hinkel on March 28th, 2008
Whether your company’s reputation has been soiled by something your company did or by an envious competitor spreading lies is no matter. The result is the same: current and potential customers thinking twice before they decide to purchase from your company. But, don’t fret; there are a number of ways to fight for your company’s once-stellar reputation and to regain your market share.
First things first
If the problem that has people upset is a big deal and is something that happened on your part, then admit it and apologize for it. You see celebrities and big companies do this... Read more »
by Carrie Hinkel on March 27th, 2008
Who doesn’t like getting free stuff? Using contests to gain website visitors, or subscribers to blogs or newsletters is becoming more and more common these days. And why? Because, when done right, contest marketing works, and it doesn’t cost a lot of money to do.
What contests can do for your business
Increase awareness of your company – For those who never knew your business, products or services even existed; a fun contest with prizes just might get their attention.
Increase outside website links – There are dozens of websites devoted to listing all the ongoing website contests. So be... Read more »
by Larry Slusser on March 17th, 2008
Whatever your business goals are, learning good public relations techniques are a good idea. Public relations are more than giving out free samples or writing snazzy marketing materials. Public relations consultants focus on publicity, such as through articles, public speaking, and relationships with the media. In essence, conveying the right message to the right audience.
How can public relations help a small business owner? First, you need think through who your target audience is. Your target audience is a group that has an interest or stake in the business. Certainly this goes beyond your customers. They will include the community,... Read more »
by Leeia Ladipoh on March 6th, 2008
Much of the secret to making your business successful is finding ways to get your name known. While many people turn to advertising, you may not have a big enough marketing budget to get you very far.
Getting involved in local events and charity organizations may be a way to get a little more name recognition for a low price, while doing a little good work at the same time.
No matter the size of the town your business is located in, there are always a number of charity events going on. From fundraisers for disadvantaged families to raising money... Read more »
by Danny Brown on February 20th, 2008
One of the most popular ways to meet new business contacts, whether as a buyer or a seller, is via networking. Increasingly popular over the last 10 years, networking allows you to meet with like-minded business people who can either aid your business, or seek your expertise for theirs. However, like any business meeting, there are certain do’s and don’ts that you should adhere to – after all, this is your business you’re promoting and first impressions last.
Do’s
- Turn up on time, or even better, early. This will allow you to target the people most relevant to your... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on February 4th, 2008
We’ve all seen it. At sports tournaments, concerts, fund raising events…advertisements.
Many businesses incorporate their local communities into their marketing plans. Whether that be by hosting events themselves or sponsoring events alongside other local businesses. This is a great way to get your name out into the community and improve your reputation among consumers. You’d be a foolish business owner if you didn’t do this.
This is all fine and dandy, but do businesses have an obligation to their communities when it comes to giving back? What about sending employees to do volunteer work? The company could pay them as... Read more »
by Rebecca Button on January 28th, 2008
In years past, word of mouth was the best way to learn about which products and services were the best. You’d talk to your friends, your family, your neighbors–and buy your desired product based on the information you garnered from them.
Well today, it works much the same way, but on a much much much much MUCH greater scale. Instead of the few people you used to talk to, you now have hundreds of other customers just like you, who can (and do) share their opinions, literally at your fingertips. The internet has made product and service review sites an... Read more »
by Leeia Ladipoh on January 2nd, 2008
So you have your business up and running, and you’re enjoying a pretty steady flow of money. That’s great, but you can always increase your bottom line by increasing your businesses visibility and broadening the customer base.
In this article, we will take a look at using local opportunities to promote your business to an immediate audience.
The Advantages of the Local Market
While the Information Age has greatly expanded the customer opportunities that people have available, there is a new focus emerging on gaining a greater flow of customers from the locale immediately surrounding a business. It is a... Read more »
by Mary G. White on December 21st, 2007
One of the best things a small business owner can do to increase visibility for his or her business venture is to participate in local trade shows and business expo events. Most communities with an active Chamber of Commerce or other membership based business organization have at least one annual expo designed to spotlight local businesses. The exhibit fees are usually very affordable, and participating is a great way to gain exposure for your organization.
Finding Events
To find out about events in your area, it’s a good idea to get involved in appropriate professional organizations and networking groups. You... Read more »
by Danny Brown on November 26th, 2007
There’s an old saying that the best form of advertising is “word-of-mouth”, and this is particularly true for any small business. You can have the best advertising team with a healthy budget working for you; but at the end of the day, the best form of advertising will still be the recommendations your customers make. After all, you’re more likely to trust the opinion of someone you know, as opposed to someone who’s being paid to advertise a product or a service in the first place.
One excellent way of getting the same results as word-of-mouth advertising is to use... Read more »