Business start-up marketing: 5 tips
While marketing a start-up business in new cities throughout the southeastern US, I learned that there are five key steps that can make entering a new market much more lucrative.
1. Join the local Chamber of Commerce. It’s the easiest way to gain access to the business community in virtually any market. Once you join, attend networking meetings, sign up for a committee and stay involved.
2. Send a news release. On your company’s letterhead, type a brief announcement about your business opening in the community. Send it to editors of not only the local daily newspaper, but to all area business publications. Include the names and titles of your new staff.
3. Whenever possible, hire locals. Their friends, families and business contacts are potential customers.
4. Conduct an advertising “blitz.” Even a small ad budget can go far, if you condense the dollars into a 2-4 week campaign. If your business or organization is open on weekends, consider a radio live remote on a high traffic day.
5. Network. Many times, the details of opening a new office will overshadow networking efforts, but the more visible you are in the new community, the faster you’ll gain market share. Attend meetings, partner with a local charity, sponsor an event, volunteer. Give a discount to those who refer new business to you.
Your new market will give back what you put in, so double up your efforts to make a name for your business, and before long they won’t remember you’re the new kid in town.
