Promoting Your Business: Where? Part 2
Well, for me the WHERE about promoting is a loaded question in a way. Your first instinct may possible be to answer, “Everywhere and to everyone I know”. Yes, I guess you could do that, however, is that effective?
I do not believe that it is effective at all. In the Part 1 of this series, my clients come to me with events, products, or services that they wish to promote online. My first question to them is, “What are you wishing to promote?”
Once you have the What? for online promotion then you can move to the Where? Start by creating a list by the places the customers of your event, product or service would possibly be and go there and start talking with them. Now, this doesn’t mean immediately go in like gangbusters and sell, sell, sell. No, this is actually one of the quickest ways to have people disinterested in what you are doing.
Ok, let me take a “side step” here and talk about networking. When you are promoting something online, be sure that where you are going is 1)a place where those who would be interested in your business are 2) they know you and your business.
So, some of the places you may find for your list are new to you and that is fine. Go in and chat with the people and allow them to get to know you. If some of the places are ones you frequent, then you will have the “lay of the land” and know better how to approach these people with your promotions.
Now, keep this list of places to network & talk about you & your business.
Next, be sure you have a way to track the rate of return (depending on the purpose) on these places as well. *Now I realize that some groups are only for personal and socializing.
Give it a few months for each in order to know if the networking group is a “good fit” for you. If it isn’t then you can begin to move around to other places. Then you can return at a later time to these groups. Just always be sure to keep a list.
So, do you have a list of places you promote your business?
If this is something you are in need of…creating a networking schedule with special days, urls and contacts, please give me a call.
