Marketing is an integral part of running a business.
It is something that you need to do when you start your business but also something that you need to continue doing.
Marketing needs to be factored into your annual budget.
Some large companies dedicate a whole marketing team to this continuing process.
Large brands are constantly coming up with new advertisements.
When marketing your business you need to think about what the best avenues for advertising are and what will be successful ways to reach your target market.
Whether you choose print media or choose to use a website with great domain names, your business must keep marketing.
Website With the internet being such a large part of our daily lives it is vital that your business has a website.
People use the internet to search for information, to communicate and to shop.
Your business needs to be a part of this global method of communication.
Depending on your product you may even be able to sell online which offers your clients a convenient way to shop and also means that you can expand your clientele and sell your product all over the country and anywhere overseas if you wish.
Social Networking As well as a website another good way of marketing online is through being a part of social networking.
Many social networking sites, such as Facebook, offer the option to have a business page, and they don't charge a fee.
Being a part of a social networking site means that you can communicate directly with customers, you can connect with a whole new demographic of people from all over the world and they can give you feedback regarding your products and service.
You can let people know about the launch of new products and inform them of any sales or special events.
TV and Radio Television and radio are effective methods of advertising your business, but it is expensive and will use most of your marketing budget if you are a smaller company.
Radio is not as expensive as television but it does not have quite the same impact that television does.
An effective advertisement is one that sticks in people's minds, and a lot of research goes into what makes an effective ad.
Print Media Newspapers and magazines are another option as to where you can direct your marketing dollars.
The success of these ads is all about placement.
Make sure your ad is not tucked away in a back corner of the publication.
It also depends on what you can afford, but try to get the largest advertisement that you can and have it placed somewhere close to the front of the newspaper or magazine.
Phone and face to face If funding is limited you may want to try cold calling people or simply getting out and knocking on people's doors.
You could also make your presence known at markets or events by holding a stall and handing out lots of flyers or goodie bags.