Last updated on April 13th, 2015 at 01:46 pm

Marketing your small business

Those of my readers that know me will know that my partner has a couple of businesses, the first involves building websites for small businesses and providing seo services while the second is a craft business both making models from polymer clay and selling the materials.

As you might imagine, this time of the year is fairly busy for the craft side of her business with craft fairs and shows at weekends. Most of the time I go with her to the fairs and it never ceases to amaze me at how she markets her business. Although naturally shy, as soon as someone approaches the stall she makes the effort to talk to them, explaining both the product and that all the models are handmade. She then asks if the person is local and explains that she has a shop in the local town and runs craft sessions, birthday parties and teaches multiple craft techniques.

You may think that this wouldn’t work for your small business but I’ve seen the results of her efforts with birthday parties and craft workshops being booked as well as people coming into the shop saying that they saw her a few weeks ago at a craft fair or school Christmas fete. All these extra sales have come as a result of her marketing herself and really at very little cost (the typical cost for these events is usually £5 to £10).

This is different to some of the other stall holders that we know who sit behind their table with faces that convey complete boredom with the event and then complain that they haven’t taken any money or spoken to anyone.

So,the question is, as a small business do you take every opportunity to market yourself? Give it a try,result you might be amazed at the results.  I’d be interested to hear the outcomes.