Organic Growth on a Small Budget

[awatts]

Hi all,

I am seeking the guidance of business owners and other personnel with knowledge on how best to market my services and create positive word of mouth on a fairly tight budget.

2 years ago I stepped out into self-employment as a financial adviser, building a business organically and starting with few clients. While I recognise that the economic (and general business) climate hasn't been favourable, I'm at cross-roads as to what and where I should be focusing my marketing efforts.

I've experimented with magazine article writing, event sponsorship for appropriate target markets, client referral requests (without incentives), paid-for advertising and educating centres of influence, all without resounding success.

I'm not in a position to promote via website or throw reasonable dollars at marketing campaigns, and so any thoughts on what marketing techniques work for financial services businesses would be sincerely appreciated.

I am a younger financial adviser, looking to tap into the younger demographic for longer term benefits, however clientele growth has been slower than anticipated.

Kind Regards,
Adam Watts

E : adam@yourlifetime.com.au

[Benedict]

Hi Adam

Firstly I have to wonder why you say you can't promote via your web site? That is perhaps one of your best avenues and it appears that you have a web site already which is half of the battle there (altho maybe that isn't you in which case why promote it).

Bootstrap marketing seems challenging but really it is a case of knowing your customers and then letting them see your passion. A lot of traditional techniques can work very effectively but what few tell you is about PASSION. As someone else here said recently: people buy people. Who would you rather do business with:

a) "Dear Customer, I have been doing what I do for 20 years and that makes me good"

b) "Hi Adam, Personal Budget Control is really easy if you know how to take control of a few basic things in your life."

You can't fake passion. If you show your passion and simply become visible then your message will spread. If you Spam blah then that will spread too.

Why not give me a Skype for a chat... benedict.roff-marsh

[Warren Cottis]

Hi Adam

I checked out Life Time and I now know that you are talking Financial Planner when you mention that you are a financial advisor.

You have entered a very competitive niche at a very tough time as all the traditional funds lose millions of superannuation fund members' money and people continue to move more to self managed super funds. It's not really a niche for a shoe string budget.

In contrast... if you have good all round business advisory skills then please take a look at http://www.360digitalperformance.com...portunity.aspx because as SMEs realise that they have to be smarter with their marketing I have lots of enquiries

[Lucki]

Hi Adam,

If your target market is the younger generation, why not use social media such as facebook, my space and twitter? Perhaps advertise in universities, although you may have done this - "educating centres of influence?"

If you could affiliate yourself with a complimentary business in your area you could both give each other referrals, I once read a dentist and masseur had such a program and it worked for them. The dentist gave a voucher for a massage and vice versa.

Keep in touch with your current clients as word of mouth advertising can bring in volumes.

Good luck.

Lucki