An overview of ideas to jump start your marketing for small and local business

1. Marketing for Small Business
Michelle Frechette Ames, MBA
MarketedByMichelle.com

2. Chamber of Commerce

3. Benefits of Joining
1. Networking & Referrals
2. Website presence (Good for SEO)
3. Community visibility
4. Venue for giving back
5. Adds Credibility
6. Newsletters & meetings/education

4. Benefits
•Networking & Referrals
• Monthly meetings include:
• Breakfasts
• Lunches
• Mixers/Happy Hours

5. Benefits
•Website presence
• Your chamber listing is one more
opportunity for you to be found on the
Internet.
• Can usually include logo, email,
phone, and website link (and
sometimes more).

6. Benefits
•Community visibility
• Welcome packets
• Event participation & sponsorship

7. Benefits
•Venue for giving back
• Volunteer opportunities
• Chamber donations

8. Benefits
•Credibility
• Accountability
• Stamp of approval

9. Benefits
•Newsletters &
meetings/education
• Keep up-to-date in your region/town
• Business Tips

10. Marketing

11. Marketing
• Small businesses are built on
personal relationships.
• All traffic is not profitable traffic:
focus on your true target.

12. Marketing
How to Surpass your Competition
• Education/Professional Development
• Attend Conferences
• Networking
• Stay current: videos, books, articles,
trade magazines/ezines

13. Marketing
Networking
• Formal organizations (BNI, Tip Clubs,
etc., or start your own)
• Events within other organizations
(Women’s clubs, Chamber meetings)
• Paid events

14. Marketing
Freelancer? Small
business owner?
You are your brand!

15. Marketing
Become an expert in
something – set yourself
apart from the rest!

16. Marketing
•Do my logo, collaterals,
business cards, web site,
etc. need refreshing?
•Do they include all the
important information?
•Easy to navigate?

17. Marketing
Engage in social media
…but do not let it
take over your life!
(Right?)

18. • You need to have a Facebook business
page or a Web page (or both)
• You need to post to your Facebook page
regularly (how regularly depends on
your business)
Marketing

19. • Claim your Google Business listing
• https://www.google.com/business
Marketing

20. Marketing

21. Marketing
To Groupon or not to Groupon?
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
Original
Price
Sold
Price
Their
Cut
Fees
Your
Cut
$70.00
$35.00
$17.50
$7.50 $10.00

22. Can be financially detrimental
Example: $70 service
Groupon will sell for $35
Groupon will keep $17.50
You will “make” $10 (minus overhead, taxes)
Bottom line: You will net about $10 of a $70
service, and you will have to honor ALL of
the deals you sell
Marketing

23. Daily Deals: Groupon, Living Social, Amazon, Etc.
• Are these the clients you want to attract to your
business?
• Will your regular clients be able to get in?
• Will you get a negative business reputation if new
clients can’t get in when they think they should be
able to?
• Many professionals feel that it cheapens their
profession…and how will that help YOU in the field?
Marketing

24. Marketing
Your reputation is online, even if your business isn't. Take control of how the web
world sees your business, and protect your bottom line. Check Yelp, Google, Angie’s
List and more to see what is being said about you and engage your clients, respond to
feedback.

25. Marketing
How will I market
myself this year?

26. • Postcards
• Introduction letters
• Newsletters
• Website
• Print Ads
• Television
• Radio
• Blogging
Marketing Ideas

27. Marketing
Update your LinkedIn profile &
company page

28. Marketing
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS
Carry Business Cards

29. A Few More Things…
• Update your website and social media sites – and keep them
updated and relevant.
• Have a social media? Do they link back to your website? Does your
website link to them? They should!
Marketing

30. A Few More Things…
• Do you tweet? Twitter limits you to 140 characters - which can
feel very stifling...but think about this...if you can't get your
marketing point across in 140 characters, then maybe what you're
trying to say IS too long. Today's attention spans are very short.
Brevity is your friend. So tweet well...and tweet brief...and get
your point across quickly.
• Why wait for clients to call you? Why not call them? Has it been
awhile? Call to see how they are and suggest a next appointment!
• Did you know...photos and graphics make a bigger splash on
Facebook than text and links? Consider saying it graphically…and
make that graphic a 800x800 pixel square. It shows up better
online.
Marketing

31. Research
• Stay Relevant
• Know the Field
• Determine Further Areas of Study
• Be Better Able to Answer Questions
• Contribute to the Conversation

32. •Ask today
•Email me at
michelle@marketedbymichelle.com
•Call me at 585-749-5059
• http://marketedbymichelle.com/blog/
Questions?