Tips for Marketing Through Tough Times (Part 3)

This is the final segment of a three part article on marketing through tough times. If you have missed either of the first two parts, please check out part one & part 2. Today we will discuss the importance of testing and keeping a high visibility to your customers.

Now more than ever you need to use your business savvy and marketing creativity to drive business and keep your customers, even if it means doing so on a shoestring budget.

Some types of marketing are relatively cheap and when done correctly, and effectively. For example, traditional direct mail can still work, especially for retaining your valuable customers.  And it’s not as expensive as you think. Postcards can be ordered for a low-cost.  Oftentimes you can get 100 for under $25.  You could mail them out, or to save money on postage you can design one with a coupon or special offer, and either give them away at your shop to entice people to come back and buy at a later date, or put them into shipments as a box insert.  When people open their package they can get a postcard with another special offer or a coupon for money off their next order, which they will encourage them to buy again.

If you haven’t yet, you can try to get visibility with signage including car door magnets, or lawn signs. Keeping visible keeps you top of mind with customers who may need your product or service.

But the one thing that you can’t stop doing is marketing.  The strides you make now will sustain you through these tough times but can also be used anytime to drive business.  Tried and true methods that don’t take much of an investment should be done in both good times and bad.