Online Class: Marketing for Small Business 101

Both of these dynamics add concern and a new focus on strategy for most businesses. Starting a new small business is both more challenging and more interesting. This course offers fresh insights to many marketing issues that you may otherwise dismiss as "not me", but which will help you to create your marketing plan. Your new company's ability to withstand the tests of time and the challenges of our fluctuating economic world will prove this course to be a well spent investment.

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Advertising, Marketing and Sales Writing

Mastering Conversation Skills

Course Motivation

All successful sales people understand the value of a master list that contains everyone they have ever known, as far back as they can remember. As a new business owner, you are the number one sales person for your business. Fortune 500 companies teach their professionals to systematically work through their master list, so that they glean all of the help and influence they can from people they regularly or casually interact with, in both their personal and business lives. Some companies call this list your "circle of influence" or your "list of a lifetime." But the purpose of making the list when you go into business is to make sure you utilize every possible resource or advantage you have in your "natural market." To get you started, here is a list of steps you can take to get yourself ready and thinking about how to "sell" or market yourself everywhere you go.

1. Create your own giant list of your personal circle of influence – those people in your natural, daily-life interactions. Ideally, this list should include anyone you can think of from your family, to your mechanic. Most people can create a list of at least 1,000 people they regularly come into contact with in the course of their daily lives.

2. Mentally and emotionally prepare to tell each one of these folks what your new business is about, how you serve your clients, and how long you have been in the industry. You want to get the word out about your new business, and you want to do it with some credibility. Be sure to mention your tenure in the industry; it makes you the resident expert to everyone on your list.

3. Get your business card into the hands of everyone on your list. Create your mailing list from these contacts, and send them early bird specials and discounts for knowing you.

4. Although the Internet has changed the way we now do business and how we connect, there is still a residual traditional networking that happens in business today. Don't discount traditional networking, unless you want to miss most opportunities. Remember, you must be a walking, talking billboard for your business – every time you step outside your door or talk to anyone, anywhere.

5. Don't expect to network everyone on your list in the same way. Remember, people are people and business is still in a technology transition. For now, remember that the people on your list will let you know their preference for contact. Some prefer phone calls, others prefer e-mail or text messages. You will network the best when you stick with each person's preferences.