Selling yourself and your business might seem like a daunting task, but there are numerous ways to accomplish the task. Of course, having a social media presence is one of the most important things you can do, but there are also so many people using the various sites, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.
There are options outside of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that could help you and your business get discovered and, in turn, sell your products. While no marketing plan is ever 100 percent guaranteed, here are a few unique ways to get your name into the world to potentially sell your goods and find new customers.
1. Start Local.
It’s good to have dreams of dominating the world market, but before you reach that wide-open space, start within your community. Find ways to get in your local paper, whether through press releases, the events page or advertising. Talk to the paper’s ad rep to see what types of deals you can get for advertising — within your budget — to stay in the public’s eye.
What kinds of events does your community have? Are there local fundraisers that are looking for sponsors or door prizes? Find out how to get involved with these functions and get your products and your name in front of a potential set of customers.
Join your local Chamber of Commerce or business alliance. Are there any professional organizations in your town? Find out, then get involved! One of the best ways to become known in the community is to be actively involved with the people and the commerce that make the town run.
2. Attend Conferences.
One of the best ways to meet people who share the same passions as you is to attend conferences — this can also be incredibly energizing and inspiring. Conferences allow you to network with other business owners and opens the door to be found by new customers. If possible, find a way to participate in the conference as a panelist or presenter instead of just attending. This will put you and your product in the limelight for the world to see
3. Give Presentations And/Or Speeches.
If you have your own business, you probably have a skill set or expertise that gives you a unique perspective on your product. Share that with others. Find out if there is a humanities council in your state looking for speakers, or contact local libraries and other nonprofit organizations about talking to their members.
4. Develop Something New.
As a business owner, you no doubt know exactly what is happening in your industry, so you know if you have something new and unique to offer the world. Even if you don’t at this point, keep working until you find the one thing no one else has done. Then, go out and share it with the world by contacting news sites sharing your story on sites like Manta to get your small business found.
5. Give Away Freebies.
One of the best ways to get people interested in what you have to offer is to give something away. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your product, though it certainly can be. Giveaways can be an effective way to get people through the door of a physical store or to visit your website.