Internet Business Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

A friend and I were talking about successful, but odd marketing that we had done. He told me this clever marketing technique.

He said that he had been going business to business (B2B) trying to get appointments with buyers to buy his software. This software was productivity software, and was less than $20 per computer. Most of his target companies had 5-10 computers. This would have only cost them $100-200 total!

However, he had trouble getting anyone to ever listen to him. He started designing a flyer, good old fashioned paper flyers.

On his flyer, he still hand delivered them, but the flyers were what made the difference. His flyers listed what his software did, but in big bold letters at the bottom he had the price, $22 per computer. More per computer, but it was still inexpensive.

He then began handing these flyers to the secretary and said, “This is for whoever buys the computer equipment.”

Then he would just turn and walk away. He didn’t ask who it was, or if he could talk to the decision maker, just dropped off the flyer and left.

His flyer gave 3 ways to contact him, email, phone, or fax. At the very bottom was a small form that asked the prospects name, phone number and best time to call. Then a check box that asked if they wanted a visit, or just a phone call.

In one day he went to about 100 businesses and when he got home that day, he had 10 faxes, 5 emails, and 4 voice mails waiting for him! That is a 19% response rate, compared to his dismal 1% (approximately) that he was getting before the flyer creation.

Next time you need corporate clients, consider using the drop off as a marketing tool. Also consider hiring someone to do the deliveries. Many cities have companies that will handle that job for you!