Help and support in marketing

[ClarkL]

HELP! I work with a company handling all the 'office' elements, so quoting invoicing, chasing invoices (repeatedly) booking in work, organizing pay and the website and social media. This is where I fall down a little.

I feel totally out of my depth and we're too small to pay someone specifically for marketing, at least without cutting my wage!!
So here I am day 4 of trying to write a marketing plan to build our brand and increase our customers and I appear to be going in circles so I want to ask.
a) what tips do you have - I see plenty of templates, I need ideas
b) Does anyone else need support? I thought it may help if each day/week we list what we have done to promote our businesses

[MrsMargoLeadbetter]

Oh dear!

Focus on your audience - who are they? Where will they be? Start with them. Think about customers & potential customers.

Think simple:

What activities could you carry out to reach your customers & potential customers? If if is just you then don't sign up to do loads of stuff, think about a couple of activities - eg an enewsletter, a Facebook page and an advert in a local publication.

Then you need to think about what you are going to say?

Could you not pay a marketing person to prepare the plan and give you an overview of how to carry it out? If you want really cheap then try //www.peopleperhour.com

Failing that, can you go on a course? I saw this recently (which only works if you are London/SE based) which is good value. Is online only.

generalassemb.ly/education/digital-marketing-bootcamp--2/london/20212

[DraughtyWindow]

Marketing for Dummies is a good book to have a look at. Agree with all the above. You also need a budget and also work out the actual value of your marketing. Measure response/conversion rates etc. according to each activity. What does the company do/sell? Asking for referrals from existing clients is a good one. Doesn't cost anything to ask.