Do you have business cards?  Make sure that each place you go you hand out a few.  I used to feel funny about giving out my cards.  One thing is for sure….you cannot be timid when it comes to getting the word out.  Having an online presence is important but also the face to face contact can make a difference.

When you are in line with someone at the store or you head off to a parent event, have some cards.  I even leave a few behind where I go **hehe**.  I will leave them at the mall or at the doctor’s office.  I just leave them behind on the table or anywhere it makes sense.  You never know who will pick them up and give you a call.  And then you are off to the races from there.

You can also use business cards as a networking tool.  Grab the person’s card that you are talking to and hand them yours.  You can also have certain cards for certain people.  Only you can determine what that is.  You may have “ok” ones you leave out and the nicer ones you leave in person.

I think of it as a way to leave my business behind and talk for me when I’m not there.  It’s sort of a reminder of your conversation.  How do  you use business cards?

When you are in business for yourself, especially a start up or a small business you can feel apprehensive about sharing the information with others.  You don’t want to feel pushy and you don’t want people to try to avoid you so you decide not to say anything at all.  That is the worst thing that you can possibly do.  Never skip an opportunity to present your business and market to others.

Even if you just pass out a business card of strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know once a day that can help your business grow.  Just think of the alternative – no business at all.  If you just push yourself to make one or two interactions each day it will get easier.  Think of it as practice marketing for your business.  It will make all the difference in the world.

Use that same approach in social media.  Reach out and make conversation with those you do not know well on social media such as Twitter and Facebook.  Even if they cannot use your product, they will remember your conversation and perhaps share it with their friends.

Never be afraid to get your business out there.  You will be surprised by the response in a most positive way.

When you go into business for yourself you have to pitch your idea.  You may not think of it like that but everytime you mention you are in business, you should have prepared a 15 second speech that will peak the interest of the person you are speaking to.

15 seconds

If you make it any longer you may lose them.  Sometimes I am guilty of making sure I get everything out that I want to say.  Pay attention to the body language.  Did they start by looking directly at you but ended up with their body turned or eyes looking another way?  Chances are good that your 15 seconds didn’t sell them.

Practice

Practice what you are going to say before you say it.  If you are not good at ‘wingin’ it don’t do it.  Please!  Don’t ad lib because you may leave something out important.  Have you ever had that time when you say “Oh I should have said this?”  Practice is the key to making sure you hit the high notes.

Body Language

Is the person engaging with you?  Chances are good that they are at least a little interested or just very nice.  It’s time to ask some questions.  Get them to start talking about how they feel about the service or product and what they would use it for.  We are all human.  We like to think that we use our feelings to determine whether something is for us or against us.

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha

Don’t compare yourself to someone else.  You have the idea that is different from everyone elses.  Your business is unique even if you are in the same niche as the next person.  Comparing yourself will set you up for failure.  And don’t rely totally on the product or service that you have.  It may be pretty and neat but will people spend money on it?  If the answer is no after you have mentioned it a few times, its the business or your pitch.

It’s hard to imagine that we are approaching the end of the year. As you continue to look for ways to make your ezine or newsletter stand out from your competition, you may decide to add some days of interest to the document. By doing so, you draw your readers in to the document to read it. If your readers enjoy the ezine or newsletter, they are more likely to share it with others which give you more of an opportunity to increase your customer base.

September 5th is “Be Late for Something Day.” You can use this within your ezine or newsletter. Maybe it comes a little late and arrives with a special coupon or offer because of celebrating the day. Marketing can be out of the box and in fact, it is appreciated. Just mentioning the name of a business doesn’t necessarily get you new customers. You have to wow them and get their attention. Here are a few more days to add:

• Feel the Love Day – September 7th
• Pardon Day – September 8th
• Bald is Beautiful Day – September 13th
• National Cheeseburger Day – September 18th
• National Comic Book Day – September 25th
• National Coffee Day – September 29th

Using unique days to add to your newsletter gives you the shock factor. It is something unexpected and can add a little humor to your product where there typically is none. Sometimes the information you deliver needs to be lightened just a bit and unique days can do that for you. There is no need to focus entirely on them. It helps to get something interesting into the ezine or newsletter that is a little different from what the readers see.