7 simple ways any business can stand out (and beat the competition)
By Paul Green
7) Write things: Do tips sheets like these and give them to everyone you meet. Write articles and send them to the local media as story suggestions. Put everything you write on your website. It’s an easy way to remind people you’re the expert at what you do.
6) Send regular newsletters to your customers and potential customers: It’s a great way to stay top of mind with people who have already bought from you, or might do in the future. Send email or paper newsletters. Try not to make it an advert for you – better to give free advice and information, with a reminder of the products or services you offer.
5) Do a publicity stunt: What could you do that would make people laugh, cry, whatever – have a reaction and remember you. Brainstorm it, plan it, review it for business risks, then do it. Very few business owners would dress up as a bride like Richard Branson did… and very few business owners have his money.
4) Send press releases: Find out what media your target customers use, then submit story ideas to that media as press releases. Don’t worry, the journalists won’t bite – if you can come up with a great story suggestion that’s genuinely of interest to their readers, you are actually doing them a favour.
3) Start a blog: Short for ‘weblog’, a blog is a kind of online diary. It’s an easy and informal way to give your opinion on issues that affect your business and the marketplace. It can be great fun and help you focus your marketing thinking. Brave business owners let their staff blog about the business.
2) Add new content to your website regularly: There’s nothing worse than a site set up three years ago that’s just stagnating. Content is King on the internet – add new content and refresh the old content regularly. Get into the habit of doing it weekly, and it will stop being a big job.
1) Do something, anything, consistently and passionately: The business that does poor marketing often, is more likely to win than the business that does excellent marketing sporadically. If you don’t have time to focus on your publicity and marketing regularly, hire someone to do it for you.
