Small business has the need to promote their particular line of products and services whether they five employees or one hundred and fifty employees. Utilizing proper selection of promotional items is an important step. Distribution of the items can be even more important, that is as to the method and how well one takes advantage of the time spent with prospects or even established customers or clients. Keeping within the marketing budget for your promotions also is a component of business marketing that is ever present in successful small business promotion.
Aligning and applying these factors to produce the desired result which is obtaining new customers and retention of existing customers while preserving relations is our goal.

First let us explore some of the do not’s so that unprofitable mistakes are not made from the lack of experience.

Usually the first inclination is to be cheap. Notice that word, cheap, not frugal, but cheap. Do not be cheap. Attempting to supposedly save a few bucks and distributing junk that no one will ever use much less appreciate thinking that you have now got your name out there is foolish and a total waste of your marketing dollars.
One good rule of thumb is to ask your self, would I use and appreciate this item to gain or keep my business?
You will get back as good as you give.

Do not select an item that is not appropriate for your target market. Business people do not use and appreciate promotion items that are not useful in their day to day work environment. Do you really think that the corporate purchasing manager you are calling on really wants a plastic water bottle? Will he or she ever even use it one time much less retain it on their desk for daily use? Ask yourself if you really desire results or am I just fooling around.

Do not think you can carry around and hand out large bulky items for distribution to your prospects or customers.
If you are anything like the greater ninety percent of the rest of small business America you may have a brief bag or brief case to carry around your business essentials. Just how many thirty two ounce water bottles can you carry? Not many is the answer and in addition can you just see yourself fumbling around spilling out the contents of your business bag in front of the client bottles going every which direction, oh I got one, here is your gift item.

Pressing forward, small business promotion need not be a daunting prospect if you follow some simple guidelines.

Do be frugal but take into consideration the amount of business contacts you are going to market as well as the amount of existing customers you are going to market with promotional items. Since generally speaking the lesser expensive per unit items are generally available in minimum orders of five hundred units at a dollar or less each you should be prepared for a minimum five hundred dollar spend. You might say I don’t have five hundred prospects and customers. That is fine we will outline items that have a shelf life of a year or more.

Do select a promotional item that will be functional and offer quality to the recipient, such as promotional pens which will be in use constantly and are affordable. Use a brand name pen such as a Paper Mate. Pens printed with your logo and contact information will be utilized daily. Pens can be used as a stand alone promotional item or you may increase the presentation exposure by including a note pad to go along with your promotional pens. Custom note pads have a much larger imprint area to accommodate all your marketing information are inexpensive, have a long shelf life and are a easy to distribute item as well.

Pens and note pads are promotional items for small business marketing that are within budget reach of any business, easy to distribute, have an extended shelf life, used daily in the business and appreciated by the prospects and existing customers alike.

Are you aware that facebook is an inexpensive business marketing strategy? When it was first created, it was intended solely for Ivy League students from each college. However, over the years it has offered many interactive tools that suit businesses all around the world.

No matter how many friends you have out there, it gives you the opportunity to keep in touch with all of them. Let’s face the truth that it is one of the most popular websites. Currently there are over 62 million members and still new members are joining it daily. This is just one of the many reasons internet marketers love promoting their businesses on it.

It doesn’t matter what type of people you need for your business, there are all walks of life on it. The potential to market your products or services is astounding on facebook. It provides your website with more targeted traffic.

The difference between it and other social networking sites is that you’re able to use the various applications to market your products or services. It gives you the opportunity to do marketing more effectively.

The idea is to add more applications on your facebook page for your targeted traffic to view. This continuously attracts them. Eventually they click your website to find more.

Probably the best part about this avenue is the fact that it won’t cost you a dime. Just remember that this website is about networking. It can have a monumental domino effect when one of your friends enjoys the products or services you’re selling.

I guarantee you facebook is an inexpensive business marketing strategy, especially when you want to make your targeted traffic to be aware of new products and services.

Since the key to internet marketing strategy is providing your online business with targeted traffic, then this website is the ultimate answer. I imagine you may be quite surprised when you see how many people become interested in what you offer. All you have to do is figure out how to take all these ideas and create a smart business marketing strategy.

If you don’t have an account on facebook, then what are you still waiting for? It doesn’t cost anything, it’s tons of fun, and it could make the difference for your business.

Once you remember everything I’ve talked about today, then you see all the potential that surrounds facebook and how you can make it work for your business.

Is your current business marketing strategy addressing the opportunities that exist even in the current economic downturn? When was the last time you reviewed your business objectives to insure they are aligned with the current market conditions? The economic impact of the current global recession has consumers curtailing their spending in many areas therefore this dictates a change in our own marketing direction.

Although consumers may be spending less money it is still being spent. It is up to marketers to make the necessary adjustments to determine what consumer are buying and why. Obviously a shift in priorities is at the root of this and this change needs to be identified and addressed. If done properly a more effective and appropriate marketing message can be developed to address the change.

Here are 3 key areas in which attention must be focused to make the changes necessary in order to capitalize on the current economic environment.

Get Inside Customers Head

Are you even marketing the right type of goods or services? We are dealing with more of a ‘scarcity’ mindset than an ‘abundance’ mentality and this changes everything!

Current conditions have undoubtedly altered the thinking and priorities of today’s consumers. Re-examine profiles insofar as the needs, desires and problems customer wants to solve.

Priorities have changed, sometimes dramatically for many and as a result there has been a shift in the mindset of the consumer. What may have appealed to them formerly is likely no longer the case.

Reexamine Your Direction

What are you marketing and to whom? Could it be that your market has shrunk while another market has bloomed without you ‘really’ paying attention?

Is your current approach applicable in today’s market conditions? Does what you have to offer or the way it is presented to the consumer match up well with their current needs?

Your evaluation of the consumer’s current mindset will help you identify the necessary steps you need to take to better redirect your promotional efforts. The crowds are still out there they are just going elsewhere and not spending as much.

Implement Promotional Push

Get out in front of the public and/or consumer and get yourself noticed and don’t wait for them to find you. Now is not the time to decrease your marketing efforts but rather redirect them in accordance with the ‘swing’ in the market demand.

Find out where the traffic is and target your efforts in this direction.

Social network marketing is likely the most applicable avenue to take in a down economy since people feel stronger need to ‘connect’ and network out. It also gives the customer a better chance to become familiar with marketers thereby boosting their confidence level in a time where their sense financial security has been shaken.

Your business marketing strategy requires periodic updating in order to adjust to ever changing market conditions. Now more then ever the current global economic downturn dictates a review of your current business objectives and marketing direction. The economic environment we face today necessitates a change to better reflect the current consumer mindset. Although the economic impact of the global recession has changed spending habits purchases are being made nonetheless. It is up to marketers to identify this shift in both consumer spending and their priorities to reflect a more appropriate marketing message. If done correctly the marketing community as a whole will better address consumer needs while maintaining their own profitability.