Business Social Networking for New Zealand Businesses

Marketing for small business

I'm interested in finding out how everyone gets their customers and clients. Has anyone used advertising successfully, direct marketing, networking, PR etc.

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Permalink Reply by VBIZNZ Administrator on February 11, 2009 at 4:49pm: Word of mouth is our best marketing but we have in the past got good results from our website. This year we will be using google adwords and current client referral requests.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by lois on February 12, 2009 at 1:47pm: Hi Peter,
Having worked in a few fields I agree with Debra word of mouth works wonders.I have also seen promotional calls to potentail clients.This generates a need for services and leaves a point of contact.One company refered to them as being curtesy calls
A good Promotions telemarketer isnt there to sell to client but to create the awareness of your services.
Creating a database and with permission generating a newletter alerting client to services or deals going.
Its slow in some ways but leaves a door open for interchange and you can imagin conversation between staff going something like, "Did you get a call about sosos company they are new in the area and they just wanted us to know what they offer". Instead of" This annoying caller rang and tried to sell me stuff I dont need or want."
Just a basic example.
cheers
Lois; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gabrielle A Barnett on February 12, 2009 at 3:21pm: We have used Radio and mail drops in many areas; we still find word of mouth the best.
We also give free gifts for the big sales and our customers just love this.
Our use of customer quotes on the website has been a big reference with new customers also. We SEO'd our Webtrix website, we gained 3 new retail approaches in the first month! It also brought in the Aussies.
Although we are relatively new in business and e-commerce, our repeat sales are really happy customers who tell others - because they love the product, they want to tell their friends.
My Practice was the same. The only advertisements I used in 13 years were; FREE EVENINGS held every 3 months. Honestly I actually had too much work after that! Customers love FREE Evenings on anything.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by VBIZNZ Administrator on February 12, 2009 at 7:49pm: I wonder if free evenings would work for AdminCorp... we offer lots of freebies and ways to work effectively but cheaply.... great idea.. must think further on that one...

Gabrielle Asher Barnett said:
We have used Radio and mail drops in many areas; we still find word of mouth the best.
We also give free gifts for the big sales and our customers just love this.
Our use of customer quotes on the website has been a big reference with new customers also. We SEO'd our Webtrix website, we gained 3 new retail approaches in the first month! It also brought in the Aussies.
Although we are relatively new in business and e-commerce, our repeat sales are really happy customers who tell others - because they love the product, they want to tell their friends.
My Practice was the same. The only advertisements I used in 13 years were; FREE EVENINGS held every 3 months. Honestly I actually had too much work after that! Customers love FREE Evenings on anything.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by VBIZNZ Administrator on February 12, 2009 at 7:51pm: One item on our next marketing plan is publicity, which is what you do... so what do you recommend for marketing in 2009?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pete Burdon on February 16, 2009 at 7:57am: I always recommend that people use free publicity. It not only gets you in front of a large group of people like advertising does, but it gives you credibility because everyone knows that journalists are writing the stories, not you. I write lots of columns for business publications and this has got me lots of work. By doing that, people see me as an expert, and come to me when they either want me to get them some publicity, or want me to show them how to get their own.

I believe publicity should be in everyone's marketing plan. But I also know it is not enough by itself. That's why I'm learning so much from everyone's posts. I like the free evening idea.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by VBIZNZ Administrator on February 16, 2009 at 10:10am: To a degree, I've built an expert reputation here in Chch but I now need to go national :) and international....

Peter Burdon said:
I always recommend that people use free publicity. It not only gets you in front of a large group of people like advertising does, but it gives you credibility because everyone knows that journalists are writing the stories, not you. I write lots of columns for business publications and this has got me lots of work. By doing that, people see me as an expert, and come to me when they either want me to get them some publicity, or want me to show them how to get their own.

I believe publicity should be in everyone's marketing plan. But I also know it is not enough by itself. That's why I'm learning so much from everyone's posts. I like the free evening idea.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cabal Investigations on February 16, 2009 at 12:40pm: Damned if I know.

While for some types of clients, mostly law firms, I periodically send out info regarding our legal support services and pricing but the reality is that to gain one of them as a client, they'd have to drop whoever they are currently using so aren't probably going to do that unless otherwise dissatisfied with the service they are getting. I'm not interested in undercutting the competition and engaging in a price war. In fact, I may even be more expensive than some of my competitors but I try to maintain a 0-1 day turnaround time as opposed to 1 week or so that seems standard.

As for private clients, I think the Yellow Pages tends to be the first port of call, and then they just work their way down the list until they get to speak to someone in person.

Word of mouth has, I know, resulted in a few referrals but usually for legal practitioners within the same firm. Where I used to serve documents for one lawyer in a particular firm, I'm now serving documents for 5. Private clients are, I believe, less likely to discuss over coffee with friends how I helped them with their personal problems.

Trying to find the magic marketing solution, if it exists (which I doubt) is an ongoing process.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Scott Miller on February 17, 2009 at 8:08am: I find remembering to ask existing clients to tell their friends and family about your services one of the best forms of advertising. It takes a while to get 'traction' but once that referral network is up and running it feeds itself.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Huggins on February 19, 2009 at 3:15pm: We get a few enquiries form the website, but not as many as I would like.

I am member of a BNI chapter and that has been great for my business,and I would recommend people to look into that form of networking.

ANd of course client referrals is always very powerful.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by visavant - Peter S. Cooper on February 23, 2009 at 7:03am: Good morning, Peter and fellow VBIZ NZ members,
I totally agree that word-of-mouth advertising is the best. Even my marketing company gets most of its new clientele from referral business.

I also agree with the comment about using free promotion whenever possible. Believe it or not, it can be a hard-sell to do so with my clients, who think paid advertising is the only way to go! (I prefer a mix of both, where and when it is advantageous to do so...)

With all of that, it still boils down to a simple set of questions:
1. Who are my clients?
2. What do they need?
3. How does what I offer satisfy those needs?

I run marketing courses, internationally (AND practice what I teach! - cheeky grin), and if there was enough interest on the part of VBIZ members, I could put a workshop (or workshops) together to cover the basics of marketing. Debra, what's the polcy on this, please?

Have a great week. Am happy to answer any further questions.

Cheers,
Peter
visavant; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tracy Heads@Trade Kids' Gear on March 1, 2009 at 6:13pm: Hi, I just wanted to get some feedback please.

I am considering cold calling during the day (to catch the Mums at home), just to let them know that my website is out there. I would appreciate others opinions on this form of advertising. Would you find it intrusive if I called your home (not at dinner time), and could it backfire if people got grumpy & told their friends? On the other hand, do you think parents would find a quick informational phonecall about the website helpful?

Any feedback would be appreciated. My website is http://www.tradekidsgear.co.nz

Thanks; ▶ Reply to This