Grown Your Small Business Fast - Start With-In!

People ask me all the time, "What's the fastest way to Market my Small Business?" My answer is always the same - START WITH-IN.

Start With-In Start by telling 5 of your closest friends and / or your family members what your business is all about. Share with them what you offer, sale or service. Try to sale your business to your loved ones first. Give them a free sample or what I call, a "Friends & Family" discount for your business. Serve them better than you would serve your top clients - treat them your best!

Stay Professional & Personal Do not make the mistake of being unprofessional by believing it is o.k. to "take your time" do the job "half- way" or just give less than your best just because they are family. This could be a disaster - you wouldn't want to do your Aunt Linda wrong, would you? Your Aunt will take that real personal, and just like an upset customer she will never forget it. Now when you give your Aunt your best you'll learn that you'll never have to say anything else about your business because your Aunt Linda has now become your #1 spokesperson. Family members love to brag about their relatives. Most of your family wants you to do your best in life and in your business.

Ask For Feed Back Encourage honest feed back and you will receive it. Write a list of questions to give to your family and friends. Customize your list based on: You, Your Product, and Your Service. Ask everyone the same questions - compare and analyze the responses. Have an open mind to accept any opinions offered. Make improvements if you see necessary, and believe me, there should always be improvements.

Pass It On: Now that you've served your friends and family, ASK them to tell only 5 of their closets friends and/or family members about your business. Let them become your spokespersons, they will be your walking commercial. You will then find that most of your new customers came from word-of-mouth. Word- of-Mouth is the most Powerful form of marketing.

Try out these suggestions and let me know how your business grew.

START WITH-IN

Written By: Nicholas "Redd" Scott Sr.

Marketing Matters (The Forgotten Business Cards)

Ok. You have your business, you have your business plan, now it’s time to let everyone know that your business exist. You need customers…time to advertise.

Have you put any planning into your business cards? No Really Have You?

Business cards are mostly overlooked, when they are one of your most effective tools of advertising / marketing your business. Business Cards have been used throughout history as a tool of introduction, status, and credibility and today, that has not changed a bit. The problem with most business cards is the fact that very little planning is put into the “ATTITUDE” of the card itself. Don’t just order the free business cards, because it shows the customer, very little was put into the making of them. Professional business cards are not as expensive as most people think. You save money and by making them on your computer and printing them out all day long, but is the end result a quality forward business card? Printing them from home could become very expensive once you include the cost of your supplies. It is very possible to order thousands of business cards at a cost less than that of a monthly company cell phone bill.

(Redd Marketing offers business cards 5000 front and back UV coated, glossy for only $199.00 design included)

Marketing Matters…Don’t forget about your business cards.

I call my business cards my “Mini” Billboard.

How does your “Mini” Billboard look? The quality of a Business Card is important to EVERY business. Business cards can Make or Break your business they are mostly the first image of your company that others will see. I encourage you to put time and deep thought in the visualization of your business cards, your customers will know. But don’t over do them…make sure you have at least this information on your cards: (*If in bold it's a must .)

Company Name

Slogan (if you have one)

Your name

Your title

Your phone number

Your fax number

Your email address

Your website

A brief description of what you offer/sale. (This is not always necessary but it helps.)

Your myspace website/internet groups.

(Not necessary if your myspace or internet group accounts does not promote your business.)

Always double check your design before it goes to print…check it about 7 times, you don’t want your business cards to come back with any errors on them; have someone else look over them also. Remember your Business Cards reflects you and your company, so do them right! Invest in Quality Business Cards.

Marketing Matters and Business Cards are FACT: The Beginning & Finishing Touch.

By: Nicholas Redd Scott Sr.