Super Fun Ways to Get the Word Out There

Everybody knows that if you want to build a successful business, you have to market that business well. You need to advertise and network and get the word out there about you and what you have to offer. On the one hand, knowing what to do and having tested and true methods that you know will work is good. It helps you create a solid marketing plan. On the other, if everybody’s doing all of the same things, how are you supposed to separate yourself so that people pay attention to you?

One of the best ways to do this is, instead of trying to be bigger or more popular than everybody else, you spend your time trying to personally connect with your network. For example, let’s say you’re at a convention or conference. The rule of thumb at these events is to give out and collect as many business cards as possible. If you have any cards left at the end of the event that is typically seen as a bad sign, right?

The problem with this is that, when you sit down to look at all of the cards you’ve collected and you start to put their information into your contact list, how many of those people do you actually remember? Can you remember that person’s face? Even if you’re bad at faces, can you remember what you talked about? And if you can’t remember all of those details, what are the chances that all of those people who took your cards can remember you?

Your Giveaways

If you’re still interested in playing the volume game--which, especially if you are tabling or presenting at a networking event, is probably a good idea--the easiest way to make the connections seem more personal is to give out something you know that your audience can actually use. For example, you can buy wholesale flash drives and hand those out instead. Brand them with your logo and contact information the same way you would a business card. This way, every time someone uses the drive, they’ll remember you.

Cater the “thing” to your audience. You’ll be surprised at how many more contacts “stick” when you give out something different.

Two Ways to Take the Time

After talking to someone new and accepting their card, make a few notes about the person and the conversation. This doesn’t mean that you have to find a table and write things down in a notebook (unless that’s your style). You can simply type a few notes into your phone--there are lots of apps that you can use to keep track of the notes you make. Then, after the event, as you’re going through your cards and swag, look up the name in your notes and refresh your memory about the conversation you had.

Then, when your memory is refreshed, send an email to the contact address you’ve been given. Tell the person what a great time you had meeting them, include a line or two about the conversation you had (this is the other reason you took those notes!), thank the person for his or her time and ask if you can connect with them in the future. Do not try to sell anything at this point. You’re just refreshing and reinforcing the connection. Send a few of these emails each day until you’ve sent them to everyone you met. Trust us when we tell you the returns you get for those few minutes will be huge.

Promote Someone Else

Seriously! Why would you work to take eyes away from yourself and put them on someone else? Because that makes you just as memorable as whoever it is that you are promoting. Think about it: when you think about a favorite brand or product, don’t you also think about the person who told you about it? It’s a great way to endear yourself to someone almost subconsciously. Even better, it makes you look much better than if you were just promoting yourself.

The point is this: you don’t have to go big or go home. A lot of the times, going smaller and really focusing your efforts works just as if not better than going big. And don’t be afraid to have fun and get creative! Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean it has to be done that way all the time forever. How do you want to promote your brand?