Small business owners, even doctors, can easily get too involved in the day-to-day operations of their businesses to spend any time brainstorming marketing ideas or promotional events.
Some doctors worry that marketing is too expensive, others may find it too time consuming. Without announcing who you are and what you sell, (and we all SELL) how will anyone know? Here are 50 marketing ideas.
1. Create a calendar for customers/patients with your business name and address on it.
2. Print the services offered on the back of your business cards. I have the perfect business card that does more than this and it all fits.
3. Always carry business cards with you. Give them freely and ask permission to leave them in places your target market may visit. (when you use my business cards, the ones I design, they will be a part of that person's billfold or purse as they are keepers.)
4. Join a trade association or organization.
5. Have a drawing for a gift certificate. Use the entry forms to collect patient's mailing addresses.
6. Develop a brochure of services your business offers.
7. Conduct monthly workshops about a service you offer or schedule semi-annual seminars on related "how-to" information.
8. Print a tagline for your business on letterhead, fax cover sheets, e-mails and invoices.
9. Develop a website to showcase your products, services and location. Use a memorable URL and include it on all marketing materials.
10. Include customer testimonials in your printed literature.
11. Promote yourself as an expert by writing articles or tips on topics related to your office.
12. Submit to the local newspaper, trade journal or other publications.
13. Host an after-hours gathering for your friends/and their relatives. People are attracted to lights at night, lots of them and lots of cars. People want to know what's going on. They are curious.
14. Provide free t-shirts with your logo to your staff to wear or as a present for being a client, customer or patient.
15. Send newsworthy press releases as often as needed.
16. Create an annual award and publicize it.
17. Develop your own TV show and present it to your local cable station or public broadcasting station.
18. Create a press kit and keep its contents current.
19. Use an answering machine or voice mail system to catch after-hours phone calls. Include basic information in your outgoing messages such as business hours, location, website, etc. I would always have a cell phone and refer your business phone to that cell phone so ALL calls are answered LIVE.
20. Join a Chamber of Commerce where you can network with area business owners. This is a MUST. You're going to hand out the KILLER business cards.
21. Hold an open house. Invite prominent city officials and the press.
22. Get a memorable local or toll-free phone number. This takes a little time, but it works.
23. Place ads in publications your market reads. Be sure to reach the non-English speaking market as well.
24. Distribute specialty products such as pens, mouse pads, or mugs with your office logo.
25. Advertise in creative locations such as park benches, buses, and popular Web sites if you have the budget. I would write articles and submit them too. You want to be well known.
Life is good when you know what marketing can do for you!!
It is a GREAT LIFE!
