Selling Books

Your Guide to Writing, Publishing and Marketing Books and Ebooks

  • Blog
  • Free Newsletter
You are here: Home / Book Marketing / Grassroots Marketing

Grassroots Marketing

May 11, 2011 by Rick Frishman

The purpose of grassroots marketing is to develop customers for your company and generate a hum in your local community after starting your own business. Then, as word gets out that you have an excellent company, you can grow nationally. Here are six ways to use grassroots marketing to succeed locally first and then grow on a national level.

Step 1. Use business cards

Make a goal to give out a certain number of business cards a day after starting your own business. If you bother to have them printed but they sit behind your desk or in your pocket without being handed out, they will not do you any good. Say you want to distribute 10 per day. Put that many in your pocket and do not be afraid to give them out openly. Use brochures and fliers to get the word out as well.

Step 2. Use the power of word-of-mouth

Multiply your time and effort by working with the time and efforts of volunteers who can help you cover areas like schools, local businesses, and churches that are willing to display information about your company.

Step 3. Be a part of local events

After starting your own business, people will only learn about it if you expose yourself. By being a part of community events, you will give your business a good image for people to remember when they see your business card again in the future.

Step 4. Give out free samples

People are wary about putting money into something unfamiliar, but if you let them try it for free first, then you will generate some real sales.

Step 5. When speaking to people, use the 3-foot and 30-second rules

After starting your own business, you are the number one marketer for your company. Say hello to anyone that comes within three feet of you on the street or in an elevator. If you strike up a conversation, bring up your business within the first 30 seconds. This is your opportunity to give out one of those 10 business cards you have in your pocket.

Purposely only buy products for your business from people who buy from you or could become a prospect. This positively helps build your client base. Please visit stepsto.com for more great business advice.

Reprinted from “Rick Frishman‘s Author101 Newsletter”
Subscribe at http://www.rickfrishman.com and receive Rick’s “Million Dollar Rolodex”

Related Posts :

Your Book Promotion Budget
Guerrilla Marketing Tactics for Writers
The Most Powerful Guerrilla Marketing Weapon:...
Real Profits Come after the Sale

Filed Under: Book Marketing Tagged With: guerrilla marketing

Sell More Books!

FREE! Sign up Cathy Stucker's Selling Books newsletter. You will get useful tips and techniques for writing, publishing and selling books, plus member-only exclusives such as free webinars.

BONUS! Get instant access to Cathy's audio program on how to Build an Effective Author Platform!

I respect your privacy & will NEVER sell, rent or share your email address. More than a policy, it's my Privacy Pledge.

Recent Articles

  • FAQs About Children’s Book Illustrations
  • 5 Posts Every Author Should Write on their Website
  • Reducing Everyday Distractions So You Can Get More Writing Done
  • E.S.Danon – Moon in Bastet
  • Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue – Complicated Heart
  • OLUWAmuyiwa Omole – Re.Think CULTURE
  • Dale S. Rogers – Lighthouse on Tortola
  • What’s in a Name?
  • Sebastian Schug – A Guide to Exploring Abandoned Churches
  • Camille Cabrera – Catalina’s Tide

Pages

Contact
Contribute Articles
Contributing Authors
Free Newsletter to Help You Sell More Books
Get Interviewed
Publishing Resources
Subscribe/RSS
Privacy/Disclosure Policies

Categories

Agents Amazon.com Article Marketing Author Interviews Author Platform Blogging Book Business Book Design Book Marketing Book Proposals Book Publicity Book Publishing Book Reviews Book Signings Bookstore Book Titles Book Tours Cathy's Blog Children's Books Content Marketing Copyright Copy Writing Ebooks Editing Fiction Writing Freelance Writing Get Published Ghostwriters Internet Marketing Marketing Fiction Motivation Networking Non-Fiction Writing Oprah Winfrey POD Publishing Public Speaking Research Resources for Writers Running Your Publishing Company Self Publishing Social Media Special Sales Video Marketing Writers Block Writing

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2006 - 2021 Cathy Stucker · All Rights Reserved

Log in to your account