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Go on local radio -

Radio may not be the most glamorous media channel these days, but it certainly hasn’t been forgotten. In fact, you’d be surprised by the number of people who still listen to local radio.

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Go on local radio -

Tap into that market by getting yourself on the radio. You might, for example, do a regular call-in spot on a local radio talk show.

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Create multi-use content -

A great time-saving tip when it comes to creating content is to ensure what you create is multi-use. Before writing it, think about all the channels you might want to share it on.

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Create multi-use content -

For example, when you write a blog post, think about how you’d shorten it for a tweet, or give it the newspaper treatment for a press release.

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Join forums -

A great way to put your business out there and make contacts is to join forums related to your business. Be sure to follow relevant discussions and post useful information.

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Join forums -

It is also a good idea to format your forum signature in such a way that it promotes your business. Branding is everything, after all.

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Spruce up your website -

If you haven’t updated your website for a while, it might be time for a refresh. Keep in mind that website designs go in and out of fashion.

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Spruce up your website -

Given that your website is often the first impression someone has of your business, it is important that you keep it up to date and in line with the times.

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Join LinkedIn groups -

Another great tool to take advantage of is LinkedIn. Be sure to join both the groups that your customers are in, and the local groups.

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Join LinkedIn groups -

Local groups will often hold networking events. If you are in a group that is advertising an event soon, why not attend?

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Exchange links with other businesses -

Another less obvious way to grow your customer base is to share links with noncompeting but related businesses.

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Exchange links with other businesses -

Put a list on your website of other businesses that you think may interest your customers, and encourage those businesses to do the same.

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Stick to two social media channels -

Unless you have endless resources available, it is best to keep your social media strategy to two channels only.

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Stick to two social media channels -

Your social media marketing should be a priority, and streamlining it will enable you to make sure everything is always fresh and informative.

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Listen to a marketing podcast -

Bear in mind that marketing is always changing and there is always something new to learn. A great way to keep your finger on the pulse is to listen to podcasts.

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Listen to a marketing podcast -

Find a marketing podcast, or a few marketing podcasts, that you enjoy, and try to listen during your commute or while you exercise, for instance.

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Create a survey -

A great way to get your brand out there and increase engagement is to offer surveys. Customers love to feel that their opinions are being heard.

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Create a survey -

If you decide to host a survey on your website, make sure to promote it through the social media channels that you use.

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Host a contest -

Customers also love a freebie. To get people talking and engaging with your brand, why not host a contest or giveaway?

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Host a contest -

Whether you decide to do it in store or online, a contest is a great way to engage your fans and followers, both past and present.

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Offer a free e-book -

You might also consider offering a free e-book or white paper to your customers and/or leads in exchange for their email address.

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Offer a free e-book -

Pop together a few interesting and related articles or blog posts and offer them as a free download in exchange for contact information.

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Plan your promotions -

If you really want to be on top of things, try to plan your seasonal promotions for the rest of the year. If you are properly organized, these things needn’t be done in a rush.

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Plan your promotions -

With everything in the calendar and easy to find, you can also assign tasks to your employees more easily.

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Use the special days -

If you like to market using the ‘special days’ throughout the year, take a look at the full list so you can pick some to have fun with. Think Crazy Hat Day or along those lines, assuming it's something that makes sense for your business to participate in.

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Use the special days -

To really stand out, try and come up with a creative way to use the weirder and wackier ‘special days’ as part of your marketing campaigns.

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Speak as a volunteer -

Volunteering to speak at local community, business, or university events is a great way to get the word out there about your business.

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Speak as a volunteer -

In addition to increasing your visibility, volunteering to speak will also increase your authority with both potential and existing customers.

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Contact influential people -

And last but not least, try to establish relationships with the most influential bloggers in your industry.

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Contact influential people -

Find out who has the most sway in your line of business, and reach out to those people. Be friendly and complimentary; get the thought leaders on side.

Sources: (Constant Contact)

See also: Top tips for writing a successful business plan

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