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Originally Posted On: https://webbiquity.com/entrepreneurship/spreading-the-word-about-your-new-business/
When you’re starting out with a new business, one of the first and most important things you to do is promotion. Getting your message out there. Spreading the word as much as possible. The more you do this, and the more effectively you do it, the more successful your business launch will be.
You already know that, but the question is: how can you ensure you are spreading the word about your new business in the right way, and in a way that will be effective?
Here’s a look at a few time-tested core tactics to use. All of the following will be incredibly useful and powerful things you can do to spread the word more effectively right out of the gate.
Create Your Core Message
Before you start spreading the word, get your core messaging (a.k.a., your “elevator pitch”) nailed down. You should be able to tell anyone, in one or two sentences, what you do, who you do it for, and why your approach / product / service is different in a compelling way.
That starts with identifying and really understanding your ideal customer. Develop your ideal customer profile or B2B buyer persona to help you develop the right message. What do they care about? What words are they likely to use when describing what they are looking for?
By focusing first on understanding your target buyer, and where they look for information, you can avoid wasted time and effort during the critical business launch phase.
Talk About It
Once you know what to say, start talking to people about it. But don’t do all of the talking—ask probing questions as well. No one enjoys listening to a long marketing or sales pitch, but everyone enjoys an engaging conversation.
Asking smart questions will both help you learn more about how people think about your solution and core messaging and help to cement it in people’s minds much more firmly and permanently.
Of course, the way you talk about it is important too. To that end, you should endeavor to talk of it positively, and in an excited way – which will probably be easy, because you are probably already excited about your new business.
Get A Business Card
It’s a classic and old-school way of doing things, but it still works: having a business card helps to show you are serious, makes your idea tangible, and reinforces your core message.
If you don’t already have a business card, think through your design (colors, fonts, logo, message) carefully, then find a local or national printer to put that vision on paper. It’s one of the most powerful tools at your disposal.
Yes, it’s an ad. Affiliate sales support independent publishing.
An interesting business card can really make a difference. Be creative and think outside the box a little. Ultimately, you want a card that stands out, so make sure that you are opting for one that people will actually remember. A good example would be a Vcard, which can include a QR code that takes people straight to your website. This is a modern solution that people tend to remember quite well.
Send Email Newsletters
You probably already get several email newsletters every day and understand how powerful they can be if done right (and how annoying if done wrong). But if you develop one with a focus on adding value for readers, newsletters can be one of the strongest ways to spread the word about your new business.
An email newsletter, done right, can make a world of difference to how many people know about your business, and how they perceive it, as well as keeping your brand top of mind.
To ensure this works well, aim to produce a regular newsletter that addresses a variety of topics relevant to your business. If you get the subject matter and the tone right, but above all if the content is interesting, you’ll create a successful email newsletter, one that people are going to find really worth reading. Over time, that will create stronger brand awareness and affinity.
Email newsletters are quite simple to set up using email marketing tools, and you’ll want to make sure you schedule them as well as possible too. Test sending them out at different days and times during the week and watch your open rates to see what schedule works best with your audience.
Offer Free Consultations
A rather canny way to start spreading the word about your new business is to offer free consultations to potential clients. This is a great way to get your foot in the door, and it gives you the opportunity to make a great first impression. Done right, this can be a great way to start booking new clients.
The point is to genuinely offer a free consultation with no strings, using it as a chance to show off what you can do. If you use this as an opportunity to learn more about your prospective clients as well as showcasing your capabilities, people will be much more likely to get excited about your business, and word of mouth can bring many more potential clients through the door.
Start by sending out emails offering this to target prospects, and you’ll begin building a positive brand reputation as well as booking new business.
These are just a few of the best ways to spread the word about your new business, and all worth considering. All in all, these are the kinds of tactics that can lead to a much higher level of future success for your business.
