Business World

Marketing is an extremely important thing from point of view of the growth of any company. One needs to be innovative and market his or her product in the most attractive way possible. If you stay under the impression that it’s just business and don’t start advertising properly then you may face some losses as you wont gain enough customers. Many people think of starting up their own small business but only the few who market it well go ahead and become successful. If you don’t market your business you could end up going bankrupt. Given below are some marketing strategies that may come in handy to help you market your small business.



1: Manage time properly and think big:

You should not at all care about the size of your business whether it is small or large. You should always think big and feel like you are the most successful man or woman on this earth. This will help develop confidence in yourself and also in your customers. You should spend as much time as possible on your customers satisfying all their needs because word of mouth publicity is the best marketing that you can do.



2: Maintain uniqueness:

You should try and do something unique for your customers. Many shopping malls provide you with free car washing or free crèches while you shop. Obviously, people will prefer to go to this mall rather than any mall available quite close by to their homes. Thus, you must maintain uniqueness in your services. One should always remember that when you give something extra, you gain something extra.



3: Relate to your customers:

Forming a good relationship with your customers can help make you gain more business. Make a record of their birthdays and anniversaries and mail them regularly on any festivals. While you mail them don’t forget to add your address and contact number at the end of the mail making sure that they will contact you as soon as they need to. Customers are the ones who help us advertise ourselves, thus to keep them happy is an extremely important duty for your small business.



4: Keep a track through the internet:

Try and collect the email addresses of all your customers as a part of your marketing campaign. You can always send an e-mail of lucrative offers to them. They will make use of these offers and will in turn let their friends know and you could get more customers.



5: Check your employees:

Having rude and unhelpful employees may cost you a lot of business. Especially the staff of your company that deals with the customers should be polite and nice and should always be ready to help. This may help develop your reputation.



6: Make online sales and advertisements:

You should make buying and selling services available on your website and put up ads on all possible websites for the convenience of your customers to find you and to gain more customers. Research’s say that the online market has gone up by a huge ratio in the recent years and as the experts say you should be in touch with the fast moving world but also don’t forget other methods of reaching your customers like PR or newspaper advertising for instance.

When the effects marketing was booming prior to August 2007 many new property investors entered the buy-to-let market, buying one and two bed properties with light-to-get mortgages. The market has now dramatically changed and here we look at the predictions for the buy-to-let market in 2009.

Firstly there is a new type of hotelier – homeowners who are unable to sell their properties are renting them out. The homeowner may set their rental cost at only the amount that they need to cover the mortgage rather than on furnish rates and also at a rate that will as good as guarantee a tenant. The condition of homeowner property is also generally of a very high beau id and as a result this new competition drives down previous market rates. This generally affects larger, family properties rather than smaller flats.

Availability of invest in is dramatically reduced and as a result the profile of a property investor has changed. Prior to the credit crunch no set aside was needed – a mortgage could be given on the expected yield provided the rental yields were 125% of the mortgage repayments. Now, a touchstone 25% deposit is required and the applicant must have a good credit history. When mortgages were easily obtainable, buyers could form around a property quickly i.e. buy, renovate and sell on at a profit, and then repeat the process, cashing in not only on the price increase due to the renovation calling but also on the cash increase from the rising property prices. Now, the profile of the property investor will be someone who has cash for a sizable part, a good credit history, and someone who is willing to hold onto the property for a few years waiting for the property market and thrift to turn around.

And for the newer property developers? Well, for some who kept securely on top of the figures or those that did not overstretch themselves then they should survive the downturn. But for those also fledgeling property developers who perhaps bought property without fully researching the possible pitfalls, well, they could be in trouble. If they were assuming to offer on their property quickly and at a profit, they are likely to be selling it at a loss, if they can sell it at all. Or, possibly they are unable to rent out their real estate and need to cover the mortgages themselves. Or they have taken on too many properties and find that their own employment is at risk and their main source of income will not be the shelter it was. Or they were keener to buy a set number of properties rather than buying property that met strict criteria i.e. properties that would yield a set positive coin of the realm flow each month. Or they have come to the end of a mortgage deal and now the mortgage rates for buy-to-let are less favorable. The list could go on…

However, for the hallmark investor who ticks all the right boxes 2009 could be a good year. The key is that you are credit safe in order to fix a mortgage. If you can secure a mortgage or have enough cash, then you will be able to find some bargains, particularly in the latter half of the year as the recession continues to bit. If you are thinking of buying an investment property you need to consider the five following points:

1. Consider it to be a mid-protracted term investment – the property market is likely to fall and then stabilize for a few years before rising again.

2. Your expected rental cede has to be realistic and has to cover the costs of the mortgage, insurance, maintenance costs and void periods.

3. Although interest rates have fallen again, they will go back up at some apex – you need to factor this into your costs, or choose a mid to long term fixed rate mortgage to avoid unfavorable notwithstanding changes.

4. Research and know where you want to buy property and be sure to stay within this patch – your rental throw in the towel depends on it.

5. Always make a low offer when purchasing, stick to your figures and know your limits.

2009 could be a huge year for property investors providing you research, plan and take care at every turn.