Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I started this topic for everyone.. I always have people who want to start businesses ask me - "I have a good product/service, or I know what I want to do, what are the initial steps to get customers to know this also." From the just starting, to the seasoned vets. Maybe there is something you never thought of that someone else did - and tried and succeeded with. Or maybe you didn`t succeed and someone else did and you can find out how.

Industry: Printing & Marketing

Things I did that worked:
VERY SUCCESSFUL - Created postcards, got them printed, and delivered them (yes by hand) to 1,000 local businesses.
VERY SUCCESSFUL - Built a list of all my customers, sent out weekly bi-flyer or postcard with specials to them.
VERY SUCCESSFUL - Using same list of customers, I gathered them into an email mailing program and sent them weekly specials.
VERY SUCCESSFUL - Took around samples to many businesses that I knew would buy a lot of printing, and left sample packets and price lists on their door step in nice package
VERY SUCCESSFUL - partnered with similar companies (different media offerings, same industries) and gave them 20% of any sales they forward to me

NOT TOO SUCCESSFUL - searched day in/day out on craigslist for people who would like to possibly buy my products/services and send specific sales emails to them. *** Takes too much time without enough return.

NOT TOO SUCCESSFUL - posted my products on ebay. Cut throat pricing - not enough profit for the time invested.

I would be interested in how startupnation built their presence.

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Christopher Milas
Milas Media
Printing. Graphic Design. Web Hosting.
www.MilasMedia.com
Sales@MilasMedia.com
Business Phone: 215-512-0555

I think it depends on the product. We have a unique product in navy signal flag banners, and they do well on eBay. There`s almost no competition, so pricing isn`t a big problem. More importantly, they give us a whole lot of visibility, just as a listing in SuN Marketplace helps a lot.

For something unusual, I think it`s just a matter of time and budget. But for something with an already busy market and lots of competition, strategies would have to be very different. Overall, though, it seems direct mail is a really important and very successful option. Cartess is always promoting it, and your post seems to demonstrate the fact yet again. :-)

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