ArticleBlaster Effective Marketing On A Shoestring Budget

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Please consider this free-reprint article written by:
Mat Kelly

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Article Title: Effective Marketing On A Shoestring Budget
Author: Mat Kelly
Word Count: 1036
Article URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=109683&ca=Marketing
Format: 64cpl
Author's Email Address: shell[at]bigoakinc.com (replace [at]
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There's only a small percentage of businesses in the
marketplace with the firm brand recognition associated with
Oprah, Microsoft, McDonald�s, Starbucks and Amazon.com. While
the hefty marketing budgets of these behemoths is impressive
you can promote your company and get your piece of the pie with
a considerably smaller - even miniscule - budget. From
networking to low-cost trade show displays, there are low-cost
and effective alternatives to traditional marketing strategies
that can effectively impact your bottom line.

The first step is to focus your marketing efforts (otherwise
known as target marketing). A topic that has nearly been
discussed to death, target marketing is essential for just
about every company, no matter how large or small. You don�t
see advertisements for Oprah�s show on ESPN because that�s not
her target market. And while a household name like McDonald�s
appeals to almost everyone, their advertising efforts tend to
be targeted toward specific marketing trends. Their latest
marketing campaign is focused on the youth market that, these
days, have much more of their own money to spend than the youth
market of yesteryear.

If you are faced with a limited marketing budget, you must be
creative and persistent in your efforts. Here are a few ideas
that are alternatives to the more traditional, higher-priced
marketing approaches that will get your company some exposure
and won�t break your budget.

Networking
We�re all familiar with print, radio and television
advertising. And as the innovations of cable and the Internet
have become more prominent in our lives, infomercials, banner
ads and other Internet advertising avenues have been added to
the mix. However, if you really want to connect with your
target market, getting out and meeting them through networking
is probably the best way to do it.

Joining professional organizations such as your local chamber
of commerce or civic organizations such as your area Rotary
club will put you in touch with the movers and shakers of your
community. These people are likely to become colleagues that
you can learn from as you watch them grow professionally and
you watch your company grow as well. And while they may be able
to connect you with potential clients and opportunities, you
should approach these relationships prepared to give without
motive. If you join these organizations with a �what�s in it
for me?� attitude, you will likely be spotted as such and left
out in the cold.

Partnerships and Sponsorships
Another great way to not only get your name in front of your
prospects, but also learn more about them, is through
partnerships and sponsorships.

When a community is unfamiliar with your company or
organization, one of the easiest ways to build trust is through
a partnership with a more established and successful company.
But keep in mind you�re going to need to be offering a product
or service that is so useful to their customer base that your
partner is willing to risk their reputation by endorsing you.
If you don�t partner with a well-established firm, at least
partner with a non-competitor that offers services
complimentary to yours. If you sell shoes, and your partner
company sells mortgages, that won�t make sense to the customer
and will raise their suspicion of you.

Supporting community and civic organizations through
sponsorship is another way to reach your audience. Your efforts
can range from the local little league baseball team to a
fundraiser for any sort of worthy cause. Be creative in
deciding what to support � anything from your local chapter of
the American Heart Association to an organization that raises
money for any needy population in the area � abused women and
children, the homeless, the mentally ill, disaster victims,
etc. This offers a two-for-one opportunity for your company; a
chance for you to satisfy your civic conscience by getting
involved with that organization that you�ve always wanted to
volunteer with, and you get exposure for your company at the
same time.

A Trade Show on the Cheap
Trade shows are the ultimate in target and network marketing.
But when you begin to calculate the cost of your trade show
display, the fees for attending the show, the cost of travel to
the show, hotel accommodations and the cost of someone to run
the booth, you may be ready to scratch this marketing tool off
of your list. But there are options to keep your expenses low.

One area where you can curb your trade show attendance cost is
in the price of the trade show display. But be careful � your
exhibit will say a lot about you and your company; you want to
save money, but not at the expense of quality. Most companies
offer low-cost trade show display options, such as table top
displays. They are easily transported and assembled, and
typically range between four and eight feet in size. While the
more elaborate custom trade show displays can cost several
thousands of dollars, you can purchase the table top versions
for only a few hundred dollars.

Above and Beyond Customer Service
Before you roll your eyes, because we�ve all heard the speech
about providing outstanding customer service, keep in mind that
these days excellent customer service is hard to come by.
Everyone talks about it, but nobody�s doing it. So, why don�t
you be one of the few who actually walks the talk? Ask for
customer feedback � and actually act on the feedback you�re
given. Do something extra for the customers who do a lot of
business with you. Recognize and thank your customers during
the holiday season. Look for other opportunities to extend
beyond the customer�s expectations, because going the extra
mile is an investment in your company�s future success.

Economical marketing can be easily achieved � it just requires
some innovation and concentrated effort. Start with these ideas
and others are sure to come forth � and then you can expand your
budget to include more traditional marketing if you want.

About The Author: Mat Kelly is the president of ExhibitDEAL,
the Original Exhibit Wholesaler specializing in
http://www.exhibitdeal.com/products-table_panels.html and trade
show exhibits. The company has options to fit every budget.
Visit: http://www.exhibitdeal.com/

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