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Marketing Your Start-Up on a Shoestring Budget
By Steve Reynolds

Your start-up business is working beautifully, you're starting to get some business and you think that everything is running like clockwork UNTIL...someone mentions marketing. Dang. Another expense. Marketing your start-up business doesn't have to be expensive.

If you carefully weigh the most important marketing tools and start with those, then your business account won't feel the pinch, plus, you'll be generating future sales!

I'm sure that you've read the mantra that most small businesses fail. Well, many of those businesses that failed didn't utilize any marketing to churn up new customers. Marketing is an essential ingredient in any new business plan. Adding marketing doesn't guarantee success, but it does give you the best odds.

So, you some marketing for your startup business but you have a tight budget - catch 22? Certainly not. You just have to take baby steps in your marketing and business until you can afford to implement a full marketing campaign. If you are starting with absolutely zero marketing, below are some affordable marketing services that you should add to your business:

1) Identity - You probably have a business name, but do you have an identity with your business? Do you have a finished logo, a color combination, a slogan or a business image? Without a company identity, your customers can't connect with who you are and what you do.

2) Business Cards / Calling Cards - Once you have an identity, the next marketing tool that you need is a way to market your business to your neighbors and prospects. Your business may need business cards, calling cards or both. Your cards should feature your logo, contact information and a clear and concise statement about what you do. For my business, I state "Square2 Creative - Marketing your small business beyond square one". From that statement, you know that I do creative marketing services and target small businesses and start-up companies.

3) PowerPoint Presentation - After you have a logo, identity and business cards, you are ready to tell the world what it is that you do. A visual marketing presentation will make your sales and business meetings much more effective and enjoyable. Most every computer has Microsoft PowerPoint or similar presentation software. Start with a template that is already created, then write your presentation in Outline View. Try to limit each slide to one thought, and keep the presentation pretty brief. Once you are finished you can email the marketing presentation to prospects or present it to them in person.

4) Company brochure - The next small business marketing baby step is to create a company brochure that highlights what you do, and promotes your benefits and unique solutions. Microsoft Publisher has several great templates for brochures. All you have to do is fill in the text and add a couple of images. A marketing brochure is perfect as a leave-behind after a meeting or as a direct mail piece.

5) Simple WebSite - Many more people today use the Internet as their first place to learn about new companies and their products and services. Without a website, you are missing a vital link to your customers and you are probably sacrificing several qualified leads. A simple website that features brief company information, directions, testimonials and product images will go far to improve your credibility and professionalism.

Each of these baby steps can be created for relatively little expense. But these are simply a starting point when marketing your start-up business. If you wish to get a quote from me to complete any of the above babysteps, please send an email to quote@square2creative.com.

About the author:

Steve Reynolds has more than 15 years of hands-on marketing experience in design, copywriting, creative strategies and marketing strategies.

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