Marketing your mortgage origination business should be a year-round event. But, according to Chase's Annual List of Events, it takes on an even bigger prominence in June.
This is because June is Entrepreneurs' Do It Yourself Marketing Month. And while many small businesses (especially those that are starting up) cannot afford to pay for a professional marketing firm, one expert says they can still learn some of the skills to do it themselves.
Jennifer Davey, founder of JJS Coaching, explains, "In today's economy, small businesses need to use low-cost, high return on investment marketing tactics that don't take up a lot of time. It's about choosing one or two tactics that your target market responds to and sticking with it. The key is to keep the marketing tactics and message client centered."
Her suggestions:
1. Have something to giveaway. "Create giveaways that educate potential clients on how to buy in your market, or solve a mini problem and trade it for contact information. Marketing to those who have the problem you solve is the key to keeping marketing costs and time to a minimum"
2. Automate your marketing. "Reaching out to potential clients over and over again is a lot of work. Use marketing automation tools such as autoresponders, card mailing services and social media tools to automate the scheduled tasks"
3. Write or Blog. "Clients want to work with a real person, not a nameless, faceless company. Give them a chance to get to know you and see you're the expert in your field."
Then, said networking expert Ivan Misner, there is the least expensive but possibly most productive form of do it yourself marketing, namely word of mouth marketing.
"While I believe some traditional marketing is necessary to build a successful business, networking is one of the many things you can and should do yourself to seek business success," says Misner, chairman of BNI.
"Marketing isn't just about sending out flyers or producing brochures. It's about connecting with prospective customers. And nothing is more effective than referral networking—also known as word-of-mouth marketing—for making that vital connection."
