What’s the best way to promote your business? Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your website and paid advertising are the only two ways to attract more business! The CID knows that getting the word out about your business is an ongoing challenge so we want to help you with your marketing efforts in 2015.
Here are 5 FREE ways we can help:
1. Send us an article. This can be a story about your company, tips for other Martin City businesses or community members, helpful advice for clients and/or prospects, or any other non-promotional article that we can post on the Martin City Blog. We receive on average, 1000 – 1500 visitors to the website monthly and the blog is marketed on all the CID’s social networks so it’s a great place to get some free press!
2. Post something weekly on your Facebook page. The CID is very active in all four of the main social networks (Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook) with Facebook being the most popular (3626 fans). The CID’s social networks exist primarily to share news from the Martin City businesses so if your business posts something regularly to your Facebook page (or other network), you can bet we are going to share it with our audience. If there is something specific you would like us to share, please feel free to send us that information so we can get the word out.
Also, here’s a tip from our social media management company about what to post on Facebook: Make sure you post things that humanize your business. No one responds to blatant promotions so posting staff photos, funnies and useful information will generally give you the best results.
3. Send us your coupons and monthly specials. The CID sends out a monthly newsletter with room for five coupons at the bottom of each letter. Missy Wilson, the CID’s Executive Director, sends out an email to all CID businesses approximately two weeks prior to the newsletter requesting information about coupons and specials. Just be on the lookout for that email and respond with your coupons or specials and we’ll take care of the rest! In addition to being in the newsletter, we also have a coupon page on the Martin City website, is shared repeatedly on the CID’s Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn networks each month.
4. Send us your events. We are super excited about our new event calendar and are happy to showcase your events as well. Like all the other pages on the Martin City website, our event calendar is marketed across all our social networks and in our newsletter. If you have something coming up and would like to have it added to our event calendar, please send all relevant information to Missy Wilson, the CID’s Executive Director, and we will make sure it’s taken care of!
5. Get involved. Most people don’t realize how many businesses are in the CID and there are several ways you can get in front of them. The monthly CID board meetings are open to the public and are held the second Thursday of each month at 8:30am at Jess & Jim’s Steakhouse.
The Martin City Business and Community Association (MCBCA) meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:15am at Sidelines Custom Floral, and is currently looking for volunteers for their board of directors. The MCBCA is responsible for the St. Patrick’s Parade and the 5K Whiskey Run in Martin City.
We also encourage membership in the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce as they have been active supporters of our Martin City businesses. The Chamber’s leadership attends the CID board meetings and they host many events in Martin City so there’s a lot of opportunity for your business to collaborate with the greater community around you.
So what can the CID do to help you market your business in 2015? Here’s a quick wrap-up:
1. We can post an article about you on the CID’s blog
2. We can share your news on our social networks
3. We can distribute your coupons and specials in our email newsletter and on our website
4. We can add your events to our public event calendar
5. We can introduce you to other businesses that may buy from you or send referrals your way!
*Please send all articles, coupons, specials and other information you would like promoted to Missy Wilson, the CID’s Executive Director. (manager@martincity.org)
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