Following up is essential to your small business marketing
If you’re an entrepreneur operating and managing your own small business, you have many responsibilities. You are your own secretary, bookkeeper, marketing director, sales person and ‘deal closer’ among other things. Even if you detest the sales side of things, you have to do it unless you hire someone else to. Part of the sales process that’s too often overlooked is follow up. Consistent follow up can dramatically increase your conversion of leads to paying clients.
Follow up should be started when you first make contact with a new prospect. If you meet someone at a networking event, take some time to make notes on their business card and follow up with them the next day with a handwritten note. Even if this person is not a great lead for you, they may know someone who would be.
A small business marketing idea that will also serve as follow up is a newsletter. Send out regular updates to past clients and prospects to keep yourself at the forefront of their mind. When one of these people is looking for the service or product you provide, they will probably go to you first.