5 Ways to Upgrade Your Existing Marketing Materials for Practically Nothing!


In addition to direct marketing strategies you want to besure your existing passive, or indirect, marketing activitiesare as effective as possible. When is the last time you tooka good look at your existing marketing activities?

Here are some fast, easy (and free to inexpensive) ways toupdate and upgrade your existing marketing activities.

YOUR VOICE MAIL MESSAGE

Does your voice mail message give additional informationabout your business? Use this opportunity (you have acaptive audience) to provide some additional information.You can mention your website or newsletter, promote anupcoming event, or offer a free report.

YOUR E-MAIL SIGNATURE

This is a chance to send a marketing message along withevery e-mail that you send. Remember, e-mails are oftenforwarded. Think viral marketing (if this term is new toyou, check out Seth Godin. It's a good thing). Do you havean upcoming event? Do you offer a free article or report?Are you having a sale? At a minimum put a link to yourwebsite in your e-mail signature. In addition to interestingcontent, think about the color and font of your e-mailsignature and create something that is attractive and fitswith your brand.

YOUR BUSINESS CARD

Use the back of your business card. Don't leave thisvaluable space blank. Make an offer for something like afree report, your newsletter, a sample of your services,a discount, etc. Get your business cards out into theworld so people can hear about your offer. Ask forpermission to leave a few cards at places your clientsfrequent like stores, restaurants, gyms, waiting rooms, etc.

YOUR EXISTING PROFILES

I hope you have profiles on networking websites, directories,clubs, industry associations, and the like out there. Hasyour marketing message, your offer, and/or yourproducts/services changed since you first created yourprofiles? I am betting that is a yes! Review all yourprofiles to make sure they are up to date. This is a greatchance to take inventory of all of the places where you haveprofiles and create a list you can refer to later. If youhave a photograph of yourself to add to your profiles, pleasedo so. Add your photo to your own website if it isn't alreadythere. Connecting your face with your company makes yourcompany more human and personal. Remember, people buy frompeople they know, like, and trust. It will also help peoplerecognize you at events.

YOUR COMPANY LETTERHEAD

This may seem like a no-brainer but I have seen businessowners who don't have their contact information on theirletterhead. Your letterhead needs to include your phonenumber, e-mail address, and website. This goes for yourprinted hardcopy letterhead as well as the electronicversion.

The only way to know which marketing strategies are workingfor you is to keep track. This includes the activates aboveas well as all of your other strategies (networking,referrals, direct marketing campaigns, etc.)

Always, I mean always, ask people who contact you how theyheard about your business and record this valuableinformation. It is easy to do, simply create a list of allof your marketing strategies and how many people respond toeach one. It is easiest to do this electronically using aspreadsheet so you can easily calculate percentages andtotals. You can also use old-fashioned pen and paper ifyou must. Whatever method you prefer, just make sure youdo it!

It's time to get into action. Take some time and go throughall of your marketing materials. What marketing tools do youhave laying around that could be dusted off and upgraded up towork even harder for you?

(c) 2005 Stephanie Ward

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward helps business ownersset their profits on fire! Get your free monthly profittips plus bonus report at:http://www.fireflycoaching.com