When Janice started Docu-Type Administrative Services, her biggest challenge was acquiring clients
without spending a lot of money. "As most small business owners can attest
to, the budget during the start up phase is little to non-existent," Janice
says. "I never advertised because of the cost so I had to improvise."
The secret of Janice's marketing success is to promote herself and her
business in a variety of ways.
Janice joined and became very involved with the Brampton Board of Trade, and
attended every networking event she could, freely handing out her business
cards. She did cold calls and fax broadcasting to get the message out. Her first
client was actually the Superintendent of her local community centre; he had
seen a flyer Janice had posted in the centre and needed someone to type up a
report. Other clients soon followed.
One of the marketing techniques that's been very effective for Janice is
writing articles about starting and running a small business. She is a
contributing writer for HerQuest.com, and the
RSSHerald, and has been published in numerous
online and print publications. She's even appeared as a guest columnist on this site
(Joining Industry
Specific Organizations Has Many Benefits). For more about writing articles as a
promotion technique, see my article, 10
Low Cost Ways to Promote Your Business.
Having a Web site is a must for an entrepreneur in Janice's business. Besides
showcasing her talents as a Web site designer, her Web site is also a very
effective marketing tool. The first thing you'll notice when you visit the
Docu-Type Web site is that it's easy to find
information about Janice and the
services her company provides; she even has her résumé online.
The second thing you'll notice, is that Janice gives visitors reasons to
return to her site, as every good Web site does. Besides company
information, you'll find Janice's business-related articles here, and
information on Janice's Web site Excellence Award. Janice also produces an
online newsletter, and a print version that she sends out to contacts and
clients.
Online networking has also been an important component of Janice's marketing
efforts. After all, the clients for a Virtual Assistance business such as
Janice's could be anywhere in the world. Janice says that her membership in and
contributions to the many email discussion lists she belongs to have been her
most effective networking method for attracting non-local clients.
And her time spent networking online has had some great spin-offs. For
example, Janice met her best friend, Kathy Ritchie, of Ritchie Secretarial
Service, online two years ago, when Kathy submitted her Web site for Janice's
Web site Excellence Award, and they started to chat.
Next page > Secrets of Start Up
Success> Page 1, 2,
3
You can contact
Janice Byer, MVA, at jbyer@docutype.net or
visit her Docu-Type Administrative Services Web site.
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Disclaimer: The Canadian
Small Business of the Month feature is provided for information purposes only.
If you would like your business to be considered as The Canadian Small Business
of The Month, email me at sbinfocanada.guide@about.com, and I'll
send you a questionnaire. While completing a questionnaire is no guarantee of
being featured in this series of articles, all completed questionnaires will be
considered.
