Really new business, hard time getting it up and running.

[ChrissyNickas]

So recently myself and two other people opened up a new small business. What we basically do is provide other business's listings on 35+ sites, for a small fee. When you compare getting on these websites individually costs vs. our price, we win hands down (Biased opinion but true none the less). Our biggest problem, is marketing this business, I am trying Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In, just I don't know if there is something else I could be doing. Please send me some suggestions and Ideas.

[Pack-Secure]

I would suggest blogging and also adding new articles on your website about SEO and SEO practices. The amount of people looking for people to list them on other sites have greatly declined and the industry is saturated. If you can show these people through knowledgeable articles etc, you will stand out.

[Steve B]

That's what she said.

[KristineS]

If you're trying Facebook, Twitter and Linked In, who are you following or friending in those locations? People tend to think that simply having an account and talking about your business will bring in the customers, but that isn't the case. You have to be talking to the right people, and you have to be part of the community, and contributing to the community, before you can successfully talk about your business and get people to listen. Strategic following is key. You don't want to follow random people, you want to follow people who will need the service you have to sell and the information you have to offer.

[Pack-Secure]

@ Steve: I must have missed where she said she was running a blog and adding articles onto her website. Hmmmm

[huggytree]

youd never reach me or my business by using the internet to advertise/blog...0% chance

and its something i would consider(send me a PM with a price)

i chose my web designer from an association i belong to....they were the official ' web designer' for the association....and most of the businesses in the association use them because of it.....they specialize in the type of business's in the association

you could try to advertise to different business associations.....something NOT on the internet.....most of you internet guys assume everyone is internet crazy...in my line of work most dont even have a website.....

to find new customers
1. identify who your customer is
2. find a way to advertise to that customer

right now your trying to advertise to everyone in a method that 50% may not be exposed to


the better your able to lock in on who your customer is the easier it will be to get going......

[Pack-Secure]

In the day and age of Websites, Online Businesses and Shopping online by phone, it is a pretty safe assumption that most people have access to purchase online.

For the price that local advertising costs and the return, we do way better via Internet advertising.

The OP States: What we basically do is provide other business's listings on 35+ sites, for a small fee. When you compare getting on these websites individually costs vs. our price, we win hands down.

So of course my suggestions will be internet based.

[Will Cunningham]

Find the pain your customers have - speak to their pain. Like "tired of not being seen on the internet? Get listed.." etc. Find out their pain point, solve their problem. Having the best widget in the world won't get you customers, but solving their problems will make them come running.

Also, huggytree suggested to know your customer, then advertise to them...I agree, identify who your best customer would be and find where they hang out.