By Bob Meyer

Use your trade (barter) exchange (members’ services) at every opportunity to advertise/market your company.

The following eight suggestions are inexpensive to incorporate. And the services and products suggested can be obtained on barter in most cases. So call your trade exchange counselor today…and get started now!

1. Business Cards Do Double Duty: Next time you print your business cards print a special offer on the back. Make it a coupon good for a 10% or 15% discount at your place of business.

2. Gifts: Send your preferred customers inexpensive and thoughtful gifts at the appropriate time. Like cookies frosted with their company logo, as a welcome home (after a cruise) when there is a natural letdown.

3. Printing: Printing 2-color postcards is an inexpensive way to keep your name in front of your customers, by mailing them on a regular on-going basis.

Also be sure to put an effort into an attractive company brochure before exhibiting at business conventions.

4. Joint Cooperation: Seek out savvy business owners who aren’t competitors but work in related fields—ones who you will have a similar market and philosophy with. (Or find another product that compliments yours and promote both products jointly.)

Look into exchanging customer lists so a cold call becomes a referral from a familiar vendor.

You can also collaborate with another on direct mail pieces to cut down on expenses and increase your exposure. (In such a situation, suggest they pay you half and you’ll spend the effort lining up the work to be done. With their half in cash you increase your cash flow, because you get the job done through the exchange on trade.

5. Traveling Sign: Your company sign can “travel” all around the community if it is a bumper sticker.

6. Thank you Notes: Getting your money’s worth is easy with inexpensive “thank you” notes. They can come in many forms, from a simple card or note pad, to a letter opener or a packet of “Post-It” notes with your name on it.

7. On-Hold: Research by AT&T has found that 60 percent of business callers are put on hold for an average of 30-42 seconds. Your commercial message played during this time could bring in additional business.

8. Data Base: Last but not least, your business should have a customer data base that can be used for different purposes. But most importantly to stay in touch with those you value the most—your customers!

For barter companies in your area see right-hand column, “Top Resources.”

This entry was posted on Monday, April 16th, 2007 at 8:40 am and is filed under Entrepreneurs & Small Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.