Are you tired of all those tips for small business marketing strategies that take forever to do?

Your small business marketing strategies need to combine two primary resources: time and money. When you have more time than money and you still want to market your business effectively, many of the suggestions offered below will help keep you in the game.  

Try these on for size.

If you were going to do just three things today to market your small business, what would they be? Here are some ideas that you can implement right now.

·       Call three people who have been your customers and talk to them about their last purchase.  Thank them for their business. Ask them if they will give you a testimonial that you can post on your website? Ask them when would be a good time to schedule another appointment?

·       Call three of your customers and invite them to a networking event you are attending.

·       Call three potential clients and invite them to lunch.

·       Write three new articles for your website.

·       Write three new tweets that support your new articles and attach a link to your new articles.

·       Create a new tagline for your business. Call a friend or two and get some feedback.

·       Book an appointment to get your picture taken for your next business card.

·       Call the publisher of a publication that fits your target market and arrange an appointment to discuss the options and the potential benefits to you.

·       Locate three networking groups that you have never visited and request an invitation to attend.

·       Polish up your email signature for your business.

·       Develop a script for a video you could post on the internet promoting your business. Make the video and post it. Drive traffic to it.

·       Locate a business development support agency and learn about the programs they have to support small business. Make a plan to attend a lunch-and-learn or meet with a representative.

·       Scan through three local magazines identifying companies that you would like to be your clients or affiliates. Make a list. Call the first three today.

The success of your small business marketing strategies often depends significantly on your ability to build relationships one on one. This approach does take time but if you are in business to stay, the investment is well worth it.

Donna Dahl is the author of Demystifying Marketing: Bridging the Gap Between You and Your Customer. This article is an excerpted and adapted from the book. To connect with Donna or to learn more about her book visit www.makoye.com.