This slide will help you understand different ways of marketing at a low cost. You will surely gain some relative aspect of using low cost means of marketing and get benefit out of it

1. Created by : Subhasish Sen Digital Science Web Technologies Ltd. www.dswtechnologies.com 10 low-cost waysto market your business

2. Too many small-business owners think marketing is like a trip to the dentist — something you just gotta do every six months or so. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

3. But when marketing is continuous and targeted rather than occasional and shotgun, business gets easier. If prospects have a positive view of your wares and reputationbefore you call or before they start shopping, you're that much closer to nailing a sale. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

4. The next news flash is that ongoing marketing isn't tied to a price tag. It's defined only by putting the right message in front of the right person at the right time. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

5. Here are 10 ideas for doing that — on the cheap. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

6. 1. Take steps to make these rush-rush, get-the-lowest-price times. "Even with a Web-based business, good customer service is possible," says Denise McMillan, co-owner of Plush Creations (www.plushcreations.com), an online retailer of handcrafted travel bags. McMillan encloses a small, rose-scented sachet in every jewelry and lingerie bag she sells and also sends a handwritten thank-you note. "The sachet and note cost pennies but add something special to the purchase," she says. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

7. 2. Create business cards that prospects keep Most business cards are tossed within hours of a meeting. Instead of having your card tossed, create one that recipients actually will use — say, a good-looking notepad with your contact info and tagline on every page. "The business card notepad is referred to almost daily, kept for 30 days or so and carries a high remembrance factor," says Elliott Black, a Northbrook, Ill., marketing consultant who specializes in small businesses. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

8. 3. Stop servicing break-even customers If this idea makes you gasp, think harder. You're falling for the fallacy of increasing sales instead of boosting profits. If you stop marketing to unprofitable customers, you have more time and resources for customers who actually grow your business. "More than likely, 20% of your customer base is contributing 150% to 200% of total annualized profit (TAP); 70% is breaking even; and 10% is costing you 50% to 100% of TAP," says Atlanta marketing consultant Michael King. Take a detailed look at your customer profitability data and then direct premium services and marketing to customers who count. (Microsoft Outlook 2010 with Business Contact Manager can help you analyze customer histories.) Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

9. 4. Develop an electronic mailing list and send old- fashioned letters Most businesses have harnessed the power of e-newsletters — and you definitely should be sending out one, too. It's very cost-effective. Just make sure the letter delivers something customers want to read, whether an analysis of recent events in your field, premium offers or a sweetener personalized for the recipient. "This mailing has to have value to those that read it, so it reflects the value of what you offer," says Leslie Ungar, an executive coach in Akron, Ohio. "Remember, the best way to sell is to tell. "The process is simplified by creating a letter template and envelope or customer label mailing list in Microsoft Office Word, which you can print out. The mailing list is easily created in Excel and then imported into Word. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

10. 5. Boost your profile at trade shows and conferences You can quickly create signage, glossy postcards with your contact information, product news inserts or an event mini Web site — all with Microsoft Office Publisher. Check out its versatile features. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

11. 6. Combine business with pleasure — and charity Pear head an event, party or conference for a cause you care about. That puts you in the position of getting to know lots of people, and shows off your small business leadership skills. "I host an annual baseball game where I take hundreds of clients to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field," says Kate Koziol, who owns a public relations agency in Chicago. "Last year, I took 300 people and we raised $10,000 for a local children's hospital. Few people turn down a game and it's a great networking opportunity for guests. It lets me reconnect with current clients and impress potential clients." Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

12. 7. Create a destination Bookstore chain Barnes & Noble has its coffee bars. Furnishings giant Ikea offers child-care centers and cafeterias. Why? So customers gravitate to the stores to enjoy an experience, to hang out for a while. Sunday morning at Barnes & Noble becomes a pleasant weekend routine, rather than a shopping errand. Steal this idea. This tip isn't limited to offline destinations, either. Lipeset up a Web site for Games by James www.gamesbyjames.biz a retailer of board games, and quickly attracted customers via pay-per-click ads. "The effect was overnight," says Lipe. "Traditionally in the marketing world, it takes weeks or even months to generate acceptable awareness and traffic. Here we saw traffic spike overnight." Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

13. 8. Become an online expert This is the "free sample" approach to bringing in business. Research active e-mail discussion lists and online bulletin boards that are relevant to your business and audience. Join several and start posting expert advice to solve problems or answer questions. You may need to keep this up for a bit. But the rewards come back in paying clients and referrals. "E-mail discussion lists have been my single largest source of clients over the last eight years," says Shel Horowitz, a small-business marketing consultant based in Northampton, Mass. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

14. 9. Court local media Editorial features convey more credibility with prospective clients than paid advertising does. To get coverage from the local media, whether from the town newspaper, from TV or radio stations, or from trade journals, you need a fresh, timely story. It's usually worthwhile to hire an experienced publicist to position the stories, target appropriate media representative and write and send press releases. Usually, you can work on a short-term or contingency basis. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

15. 10. Finally, don't let customers simply slip away Make an effort to reel them back in. It costs a lot less to retain a disgruntled or inactive customer than to acquire a new one. If you haven't heard from a customer in awhile, send a personalized e-mail (you can automate this process), inquiring whether all is well. For a customer who suffered a bad experience, pick up the phone, acknowledging the unpleasantness and ask if there's anything you can do. A discount can't hurt either. Being kind to customers is the smartest low-cost marketing you can do. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)

16. THANK YOU If you like the slideshow please leave a comment and watch out for more. Created by : Subhasish Sen (subhasishsen@aol.com)