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

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

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.