Your Own Business

In the early stages of your business, there may be a tendency to want to spend a lot on advertising. When it comes to newspaper, radio, TV and billboards, it does not take long for expenses to pile up. You can do a great deal to market your business yourself without spending a fortune.

1. One of the best things you can do in promoting your business, is get some advice from the marketing professionals. They tend to know what works and what does not. Try and book an appointment with a reputable consultant for a free consultation. Learn about as many options as you can.

2. Be very aware of what programs and initiatives that your competition are using.

3. If you do use newspaper advertising, make sure you choose a paper that is well read. Unless your business is exceptional at start up, you will have some "slow" days. Use this time to study marketing surveys. Find out who listens, reads and watches your local publications. You must determine which way to spend a limited budget that will produce the best results for your business.

4. Do not overlook the high powered capability of the Internet as an interactive communications tool to promote your business. Did you know that according to a recent report from Washington from Mr. Rhett Dawson, the President of the Information Technology Industry Council revealed findings that "Information Technology is truly driving the US economy more than previously estimated".

Consider these findings as recently reported by "The Emerging Digital Economy" :
-Traffic on the Internet is doubling every 100 days
-In 1994 a mere 3 million people were using the Internet. By the end of last year over 100 million are using it.
-The Internet is growing faster than any other previous technology.
- It took 38 years for Radio to grow to the point where it had 50 million listeners.
- It took 13 years for Television to reach the 50 million mark.
- THE INTERNET has grown beyond this point in a mere 4 years .

Do an evaluation of the Internet as a marketing tool for your business.

1. No business is to small to keep a perpetual inventory system.

2. The effort of keeping an accurate set of records will provide you with the information necessary to analyze whether you are maintaining a proper profit margin.

3. You may be advised to buy the latest computer with all the bells and whistles. This is not really necessary. Shop around and even consider picking up a used machine or a rebuilt for very little money.  

Be sure to visit back to this location often as we continue to provide you with tips and advice on starting a business and managing it for success.

Back