I have found many ways to market my business that do, in fact, bring excellent candidates to the table. We use internet advertising, car signs, business cards, local newspaper ads, and more. But the best marketing tool I have found by far is my mouth!
To be fair, I must admit that my business can benefit everyone. It is not a terribly specialized business with a very specific target market. Everyone I know washes their clothes, brushes their teeth and takes a bath now and then! So everyone I know is a perfect prospect for our safe, green household necessity products. And, with the cost of gas, health insurance, education, etc., most everyone is looking to supplement their income, which is the other aspect of my business. So, for me, word-of-mouth marketing is the key.
And the key to successful word-of-mouth marketing is simple: LISTEN. When we stop talk, talk, talking to people and start listening, we have a tremendous opportunity to help them problem-solve, and isn't that, after all, the goal of marketing? In any casual conversation, if you're listening, people will give you a reason to bring up your product or service. For example, while in line at the grocery store yesterday, a woman was sharing with me how expensive her grocery shopping has become. She was chatting away about how every week her grocery bill is higher than the week before. What I heard was, Need = Opportunity! I mentioned to this wonderful Chatty Cathy that I have a little business I do on the side that brings in some extra money each month and would love to share it with her if she'd like to hear about it. Bingo! We exchanged telephone numbers and have an appointment for this week.
If you truly believe in your product or service, which I'm sure you do, then get out there and share it. But first, listen. And remember what Socrates said...."Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue - to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak."