5 Low Tech But Effective Ways to Market Your SmallBusiness

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If you are a small business with a brick and mortar as well as an internet presence, you probably

try your best to keep up with the current trends and statistics that make up online marketing. Social media,algorithms, keywords, SEO...the list goes on and on and seems to change faster than you can even keepup. But the digital marketing gurus tell you that if you don't keep up and master these often complexstrategies, you and your business are doomed to be left behind.

An online presence is certainly an advantage and may actually be a necessity, but in this fast paced,digitally driven business environment it's easy to forget those tried and true strategies that our brick andmortar predecessors have used quite successfully for ages. It's easy to forget that many successfulcompanies were built on what may now seem like old fashioned marketing strategies...but they workedback then and they still do.

Here are 5 low tech strategies that have been business marketing staples for many years and are just aseffective today as they were before the digital age.

1. Customer referrals

Customers are, after all, people! And people buy from people they like and tend to tell other people. Wordof mouth, recommendations...whatever you want to call it, if you take care of your customers they will takecare of you. Acknowledge and reward your customers for their referrals and they will keep sending younew customers.

2. Community involvement

When you have a brick and mortar business, you are a part of a community. You make your living off themoney your customers earn right down the street. Giving back to the community that helps you make yourliving is just good business. From sponsoring a little league team to hosting local events, the more you getinvolved, the more you will prosper.

3. Always be marketing

Even if you have been in a community for years, you must continue marketing at every availableopportunity. Your customers, and your future customers, may know you are there but you have to remindthem over and over. Handing out business cards, offering coupons and specials, networking with localorganizations...the opportunities are almost infinite and you should constantly be on the lookout for newones.

4. Customer service

If you don't take care of your customers and make sure they know without a doubt how much youappreciate their business, then someone else will. Good service will never go out of style or loose it'simpact and is one of the most inexpensive, low tech marketing tools you will ever use. From a simple andsincere “Thank you.” to a not so profitable product replacement, your opportunities to serve your

customers and show your appreciation are easy to find on a daily basis. Find them and use them and yourcustomers will continue to buy from you.

5. Always have integrity

It's not always easy, or profitable, to do the right thing. But your customers buy from you in large partbecause of who you are and what you and your business stand for. Good business practices, fair pricesand quality products are expected and often go unnoticed. But lack of integrity will get noticed every timeand your customers will punish you by taking their business, and their money, somewhere else.

So put away that computer for a little while and reach out to the community that supports you and yourbusiness. Remember that business, whether in a store front or online, is still about people buying frompeople.

By Brian Tart / November 10, 2014

Posted in Small Business Tips