Step One – Make a List, Build Your Business
In step one, you need to make a list of at least 100 businesses to approach. You can generate this list from several sources. I use the local business magazine that has space ads. If they can afford space ads, they can afford your product or service. I also use the weekly news bulletins, and coffee cup newsletters at your typcial coffee houses. There are tons of unlimited public lists of businesses online. Search for business associations, or network organizations. You would be surprised at how many publish either a partial or complete membership list. When compiling your list, spend no more than 2 days doing this.
You can spread the approach of contact in several ways.
- Call them and introduce your business and blog. Follow up with sending them a simple flyer that has your physical address, your blog address and a special promotion on a product or service you are offering.
- Mail Postcards with compelling message with return web address. Have a “call to action” to either come in for a special gift or to visit your business blog site for a special gift.
- Send out email to them, one at a time with an intro to your business and blog address. Thank them for their time and consideration to receive your email. Only send them one time! You don’t want to be accused of spam. From a list that you make, most likely you are going to get the general “info” email address.
For good measure, I take my Rolodex out and call my current and past friends, family and business associates and spread the word about my business blog. I tell them to visit the site and give me some feedback in the form of a comment or just call me back with a referral they might know who could use my product or service. Always have a reason to contact someone and then mention, not “sell,” them on what specials you have on your blog or at your brick and mortar location.
They say in marketing circles, the typical response in direct mail is 1%. So, if you have a list of 100 people, and you sell or capture 10 customers out of that original number of people contacted, wouldn’t you think that would be great for your business? You bet it would be!!
The key here is to make sure you are constantly spreading out at least in three to seven different ways, your message. The more channels you have to market your business, the more successful you will be.
Take massive action and you will see tangible results within weeks.
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