All too often I see small business owners taking ads in newspaper simply because it’s their local paper and they think that’s what they have to do to generate sales. For some businesses yes, but for many others, no. By taking time to evaluate your sales cycle, your brand/industry recognition, and prospect/customer experience you will be able to select marketing mix which will generate new customers and increased sales for smallest marketing expenditure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nicole Shields is author of 7 Step Marketing Plan manual, a complete system, including Quick Start Kit, a digital file of forms and spreadsheets, which makes it easy for business owners and managers to write, implement and manage a profit-producing marketing plan. There is a Sales Process Evaluator, which walks you through a complete series of questions to rank your business so that you can select best mediums for your business. To learn more visit: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=41836

3. Get a toll-free number. Although long distance rates are more affordable than ever, most people will still hesitate to call a long distance number. If you have a toll free number, there is nothing standing between you and your potential customers.

4. Buy smaller print ads and run them consistently. In end, repetitive printing of your ads will elicit more results than running a few large, impressive ads.

5. Buy cable TV ads. Now anyone, no matter how tight their budget, can advertise on television. Cable rates are incredibly cheap and you can even target your commercials to specific parts of city.

6. Get cell phone package with most minutes and give your number to everyone. When customers can get a hold of you anytime of day or night, you can connect to more person-to-person sales.

7. Don't sacrifice your image by accepting shoddy production or design. A shoddy advertisement gives you a shoddy image. Continue to hire professionals to design your ads, but shop around for best prices. Hire a professional designer to create a visual format, then hire a lower-cost designer to do your follow-up ads with original as a guide.