How to Grow Your Business - Online and Offline By Michele Miller   © All Rights Reserved Will they beat a path to your door? Will customers be lining up or calling upon you if you don’t market your business and let people know you exist? Most likely not. It’s a shame, but that’s usually how it is. Putting out a sign or putting up a website, doesn’t bring you many customers on its own. Getting business cards printed and telling friends and family about your business is the norm. More in depth marketing can be an intimidating and scary thing, and sometimes people shy away from it, hoping their other efforts will do the trick. However, marketing your business doesn’t have to be intimidating, and you don’t have to cold call just to get customers. There’s so many other ways to put your business in the spotlight. You just have to get creative. If you have an offline business, it’s a good idea to have a website even if you don’t sell anything through that site. For instance, on the bottom of those business cards, put your website address. When you give out cards or leave them in restaurants etc. you are not always there in person to discuss your business or to sell the benefits of your business to people. Anyone interested can go to your website to learn more about you and what you offer, increasing your chances of adding that person to your customer list. If you don’t know how to design a website, find someone to do it for you. It’s well worth it. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just clean, professional looking, and easy to navigate. If you give people a way to learn more about you without obligating them to do business with you, you will surely get more customers. If you have an online business, you could try marketing it offline as well. The following is great for both types of business: Get a professional magnetic sign made and put it on your vehicle. Let the world know you own this business. Make it easy to contact you. Offer something special, like a 10% discount if you mention my car sign when you call! Don’t forget about advertising your business in newspapers or magazines designed for your niche. That’s a great place to include your web address and telephone number also. Advertise your business on your local radio station, or write/call the radio station and see if they are interested in doing an interview with you. Most people think that they wouldn’t be interested in “my little business”, but you will be surprised. These people are always looking for fresh news and announcements. Ask people for referrals. Let everyone know you are expanding your business. With an online business there are various other ways to market your business, such as announcements, leaving your signature on chat forums, search engines, PPC, paid advertising, articles, viral marketing etc. So even if your business is offline, you can promote it online using these methods also. Being successful with any business, whether it is online or offline is really down to how you promote it and how much effort you are willing to put in. Always be on the lookout for fresh ideas, and keep records of your marketing efforts and the results you get. If you work your business you will continue to work and be successful, I’m sure of it! MICHELE MILLER is a home-based business owner and author of an Ebook about starting a successful medical transcription business from home. You can visit her website at: http://www.medical-transcription-at-home.com

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