SYSTEMS Establish systems to support your marketing plan. Setting up systems to market your business costs little and make an unmanageable task a clerical function you or your assistant can do. You’ll need to set a schedule for marketing activities, define responsibilities and use your computer to automate tasks.

The most important systems to develop and implement are a way to collect leads and stay in touch with prospects and clients. You’ll need a centralized database and a schedule for staying in touch with prospects and clients in order to do this.

Automate functions where possible so you can focus your time on delivering products and services. There is simple and easy to use software that can help you manage contacts, add prospects to your database and send out broadcast emails to people who are interested in getting your ideas. Once you’ve put these marketing systems in place, you can focus on handling growing number of inquires you will receive.

TOOLS The tools you need to market your business will vary depending on your target market and products and services you offer. The basics include:

1. Marketing materials, finished copy you use on everything from your business card, to your brochures, or online.

2. Questions, questions you use when people call about your services, or when you meet with clients, or to find out what information they want so you can write perfect proposal.

3. Communication tools, such as a phone, email and website.

Take a look at your marketing and determine if you have Knowledge, Skills, Systems and Tools to attract a steady stream of new clients. Identify gaps and fill them. You may need to invest a few dollars to make many, but with frugal marketing strategies you can limit marketing expenditures and maximize profits.

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The goal is to build a high-perceived value to your prospect. Make them feel like deal is just too good to pass up. Smart packaging offers vs. discounting will generate more sales and more profits.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Sign up for a free, 7-part Marketing Lesson at www.7stepmarketingplan.com