While new products and businesses come to the attention of the mass market every day, how does that happen?    The answer is to market your product with the same enthusiasm that brought you to start your business in the first place.

First thing first, put your business information on everything—“brand” all of the items you use in your day-to-day business operations. Your business name, your name, address, telephone number, fax number, website URL, and email address should all be included. And it wouldn’t hurt to create a memorable “tagline” or company slogan.  Place this information on all invoices, faxes, checks, product packaging, and business cards.  Doing so is promoting your business wisely.

Consider television commercials, as this is perhaps the greatest way to market yourself today. It’s true that 8 out of every 10 purchases come from television exposure.  Local cable channels often have very affordable rates for small, 10-15 second commercials that will have an immediate impact on your business.  If your budget allows, you might consider hiring a public relations firm to assist you in creating your commercial.  In the long run, this form of advertising is worth the expense.

Radio is another excellent form of advertising and less costly than the television. Though it is more difficult to portray your business and products without a visual, you can use words effectively to grab listeners’ attention and lure them to your business.  If it sounds like you’re tossing a line and bait, essentially you are doing just that. Your ad should contain your business name, your slogan and why the listener should visit you above all others in your type of business. You want to target listeners when they’re actually listening to the radio. So for adults it would be wise to run your ad during daily commutes to and from work on a variety of radio stations. For teens or young adults, target them after school time and on a popular top 40’s station.

Consider print media including newspapers, journals and magazines. Create yourself, or have an experienced designer create for you, an eye catching advertisement. You must strive for standing out among the rest, as there is great competition in this market. In general you must appeal to the eye of the reader.  If it isn’t appealing it won’t catch their attention before they turn the page.

Lastly a great avenue for advertisement is use of company vehicles and branded novelty items. Think about placing your business name and telephone number and/or URL on the sides of your company vehicle. How about distributing promotional products such as pens, mugs, mouse pads, calendars, pencils, t-shirts, magnets—the options are limitless. Having them branded with as much of your most pertinent company information as will fit, will likely cause people to glance at it time and time again and remember you the next time they need your product or service.

And in all forms, not only “location” but repetition, is key to successful advertising.  Buy as many spots and slots as you can afford and make sure you tailor your ad and time slots (and print ads) to your target market.