Marketing your products/services

I was wondering if anybody had some good marketing advice on how to promote yourself and your company. I've started a project with a couple colleagues at work and were trying to target buyers to buy our product (cars).

I've gotten a few leads a few by hanging out at my local coffee shop and handing out my business card to people I meet. I was thinking about arranging meetings with companies like taxis where I could build lots of value in my cars (stow n go mini vans for more cabin space) to meet their different needs, and offer wicked pricing mixed with good incentives. I just started my new car salesman job and I'm not fond of only getting the opportunity to sell to people that walk onto the lot.

This is a thread where people can post their ideas on how to promote your business or ideas, or anything to raise awareness of something to a mass of people.

The best thing for you to do is to analyze your market first, so you don't waste resources on trying to target the wrong market segment. Who is most willing and able to buy your product, and what is their reasoning for it? How much are they willing to buy it for? What about your product is going to make it stand out from the rest of the competition, if you want it to? Get as much information as possible, as knowledge is power. I'd also highly recommend (if you're targeting a younger market segment) to implement social media as much as possible (make a Facebook group).

I'm assuming you're just starting off? If so, I'd highly recommend to avoid spending on advertising. It's incredibly costly and you can't get any feedback from your consumers.

Find out what kind of person would want to buy your cars or what those that have bought them share in common. Figure out what they want and offer that consistently in your pitches/website/promotional material. Price according to the average disposable income they seem to have in common. I'm not sure that taxi companies would want to buy minivans but maybe depends on the taxi.

I'd say think about who needs cars the most and then go after them. Use social media for college kids/young people if you're trying to target them. You can advertise on craigslist and other sites where you don't have to pay for listings. When you're actually selling the cars separate yourself from the competition and try to figure out what they're looking for and convince them your cars will meet or exceed those expectations. Make yourself likeable and presentable of course...

If you wanted to you can be enlisted to help others sell their used cars and you get a percentage off of that. That way you wouldn't have to buy them and you can just make an easy profit. Another idea is to go to places involved with car services/equipment and befriend the people that work there. Maybe they could give you referrals.

And that's all that comes off the top of my head lol

I wasn't looking to spend any money, I just need ideas to get my name out there. I've been handing out my business cards to people, and that's about it. When I'm more established I might be more willing to spend.

Are you in the US? Can you afford a Chamber of Commerce membership?

There are also networking groups you can join, but some charge an annual fee. Check MeetUp.com for free groups.

Do you have any $ to spend on marketing and advertising? Is this a brand new business?