Small Businesses are Marketing Better Than Large Corporations!

By: Stan Washington

Date: January 08,  2014

2014 is going to be a great year for small business! I say that because large corporations are turning to tactics small businesses are already using, namely e-mail marketing.  In a recent Forbes article, even our competitors are developing a strategy to tailor marketing to smaller audiences to increase sales.  

Check out the Forbes Article. 

Here are a few things to do in 2014:

Plan on increasing your audience

As I have stated before, referral only business is too random and therefore you cannot plan for the revenue very well. Take time to identify your audience and nurture the relationship with some sort of Customer / Client relationship manager.  Be organized and know your audience.

Market through e-mail
E-mail is still the top when it comes to technology.  Yes we get waayy too much and adding to the noise seems counter-intuitive. Research shows, however, that one of the most effective modes of marketing is by contacting your audience directly.

Get out of your shell and market through e-mail. Have a compelling message and they will buy from you! Be confident about your product and service and tell people what you have to offer.  Is your product or service unique, superior or extremely useful? If so, then why don't people know what you do or better question, why aren't more people buying your product?

Market to you audience and explain what you do and why it benefits them!

Follow up

Make sure you follow up with potential clients!  One of the biggest complaints I hear from people about various companies is they do not follow up in a timely fashion.  Follow-up in 24 - 48 hours.  If you will be away, then tell the person when you will follow up and make the time acceptable to your potential client.

2014 Forecast - Warm and Sunny for Small Business!

By: Stan Washington
Date 01/03/2014

Happy New Year and this time I mean it.  My forecast will be sunny skies remaining all year and possibly into 2015. Small businesses experiences a serious comeback over the past 12 months. According to Dun and Bradstreet CEO Jeffery Stibel, small businesses are getting healthier.

Lending
Small businesses were able to obtain more loans because the health of their business is getting better. Banks made nearly $18 Billion in loans last year by the end of 3rd quarter.  This is up from the prior year and is showing signs of health spreading in all sectors.

Hiring
Small businesses hired more people last year than the prior two years. 2013 got off to a bleak start but ended stronger with 102,000 new jobs being created in November mostly in the small business sector.

Innovation
Innovation poured out of many large companies and small in 2013.  I believe this boom in innovation will come from small businesses throughout 2014. Here is the list of the most innovative companies in 2013
Here is the article that summarizes innovation in many ways.

http://www.fastcompany.com/section/most-innovative-companies-2013

Overall I believe you will have a great year if you focus your efforts on growth.