Promoting Your Business

Once you have a business, you need customers. Our Promoting Your Business section can help you learn how to use advertising, public relations, social media, and other marketing tactics to spread the word about your business.

Recent Stories

A Brand by Any Other Name: The Stories Behind Iconic Business Names
Jun 2013

Have you ever been asked to “Xerox” a document? Or asked a friend for a “Q-tip?” Both of these household words started life as “brands” that fell victim to their own overly successful marketing. These innovations achieved such widespread popularity, as competitors jumped on the bandwagon, consumers simply applied the brand names generically to any product in the category. This, of course, was not what Xerox Corp. and Cheesbrough-Ponds had in mind when they spent millions promoting their trademarked brands. more...

Using Pinterest as Marketing Tool By Stephanie Morrow
Jun 2013

Social media has become a lucrative medium for marketing goods and services, whether it’s giving away coupons to potential customers who “like” a Facebook page, enticing users to “follow” your business on Twitter, or posting commercials and how-to videos on YouTube. However, a social media network that many business owners have not yet tapped is Pinterest. This site has millions of potential customers who may be interested in following your company’s new interests and branding techniques. more...

Is a Daily Deal Promotion Right for Your Business?
May 2013

When a small bakery near London decided to try building their business with a 75% off deal on Groupon, it found out the hard way that too much of a good thing can be disastrous. Deal sites are a big deal these days, but you need to know how they work and what level of “success” your business can handle before you jump in. more...

Customer Word of Mouth – Both Good and Bad
Feb 2013

Word of mouth has always been a double-edged sword. It can be the lifeblood of any business or the downfall. In today’s tech-savvy world filled with instant feedback on social media, staying in front of negative word of mouth is paramount in ensuring your business’s success. more...