Finance: Grab your audience's attention

Here are five ideas that could be very effective for you, both in cost and results.

Start doing press releases:

You can write a press release about almost everything - extra learning you've taken on, certificates and awards, new customers, sponsorship taken in the community. Try to spread the word and be a better marketer.

Start writing articles and submit them to industry periodicals and publications your target market reads:

Articles, or comments and quotes by you in articles, work so much more effectively than advertising. If you write an article that gets published in your target market's periodicals, you're almost endorsed as an expert, and you get your name seen by many new pairs of eyes.

Use email signatures cleverly:

Signatures on emails are a great way to market yourself to different clients and your different products and services. Your email software package should have a wizard that walks you through creating one.

Start doing thank-you notes, cards and emails:

You know the recommendation that you should always send out thank-you notes and cards. But if you see a lot of prospective new clients in a week or you're just too busy, opt instead for a mix of thank-you notes and emails.

Direct your audience in what action you want them to take:

Plan ahead. Sure, you might want people to click through to your website and order something then and there. But is there anything else? You might want them to give you more information, or to pass the email on to a friend. You might want them to sign up for regular emails. If you are moving towards your first email campaign, stop. Go for a walk and think. What actions do you really want your readers to take?