Real world examples of entrepreneurial marketing

If you're considering your own business and you don't know how to market your company, you can check some of the local businesses around you. Ask the owners how they market their product. You can attend trade shows, leave business cards and flyers. Spread the word! Alot of businesses help each other, especially during the holidays. Support your local stores!

Guerrilla Marketing

What is Guerrilla Marketing?
If you look up the definition it says, it is an advertisement strategy concept designed for businesses to promote their products or services in an unconventional way with little budget to spend. Really it's a strategy to put the business name out there as much as possible. But sometimes it's a little too much. Some companies take advantage and it seems like they put their name on everything! So if you're thinking about advertisement for your company, I suggest you really take time and research marketing strategies.

Public Relations

Public Relations can be of beneficial use to some companies. But for small businesses it is not necessary that you hire someone to do this. You can do it yourself. What does it mean?
"Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” 
So if you are a small business all you need is to think of a good slogan to attract the public's attention.

E-marketing

If you are going to sell anything you have to market your product! One of the easiest and cheapest forms of marketing is through social media. Share your ideas through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.. Ask your friends and family to share your pages, get the word out there. Create business pages, then share your products through your business page and share, share, share.

Market Penetration and Competitive Advantage

Have you guys ever thought about how you are going to market your business? Or what type of competitive edge you will have against any other businesses just like yours? This is a huge decision when it comes to having your own business. Think about Dollar General for instance, it seems like they have one about every 10 miles or so. That is a really good Market Penetration for them, and to think about all the good deals they have along with low prices, that's competitive thinking. If there really was one every 10 miles or so, that would cut out the hassle of having to go too Walmart or somewhere for just a handful of items. Say maybe you just need some milk and bread, it would be so much easier to just go too Dollar General for some than to go too Walmart.

Distribution and location

Have you ever thought of starting your own business? Many do, if only just dreams of having one or actually starting one. One of the biggest challenges of planning to start your own business is choosing where to have one, as in location. Even looking for a new home most realtors tell you its all about location, location, location! Maybe you want to have your business in a major city? Or maybe start a local hometown business, either one, choose the location that is best for you, the economy and having a thriving business. Another business challenge is distribution, are you going to do online sales, or just storefront sales. Either way it should tie in with your location. Good luck to you all!

Pricing

I don't know if you all have heard of Aldi but if you haven't you should check it out! This store originated from Germany, but there is several all over the U.S. They are a low cost food chain store. They keep their cost margins down by employing a smaller amount of employees, keeping low overhead cost, using local vendors. They have very good prices on dairy, vegetables, fruit and bread. Along with a lot of other processed and canned foods. Most of their products are a cheaper brand than name brand items. But the quality is still great! Just because it isn't name brand doesn't mean it's not good. They also have great specials every week along with their already low prices! So check them out!

Organizing Departments for complaints

I personally believe every company should have some type of system for complaints, reviews, returns, and purchases to be successful. For instance when a consumer buys a product that doesn't work properly but they can't return it who should they call? I would call the complaint department or maybe even returns. Once you get someone on the phone, tell them the issue you are having and hopefully you'll get a good customer service representative that can assist you. If it was my company I would create the different departments with several team members. Having more than others in some of the larger areas of interest, one being complaints. Have several members taking phone complaints, mail, and email then compile those to give to people to review them. Once they are review see if a solution can be made, if not forward on to a supervisor that can deal with the situation on a different level and provide the best solution for the consumer and company.

company vs. company

Which company or brand to choose? There are so many when it comes to any given product. We as consumers like variety and the biggest factor comes down to the price for the quality. I know most of my post have been about items for children, obviously because I have a baby:) But I do still enjoy watching tv or doing activities when my baby is napping.
When he was first born it was which brand to use? Dr. Browns bottles vs. playtex? Huggies vs. Pampers? Similac vs. Enfamil? Most of these brands are very close in price, but for me it was, what was best for my baby.  So my suggestion is to just try some different ones until you find the one you like!
~
Stacey

What do parents want as consumers?

Every parent wants products that they can use efficiently and easily. Products that make raising their children easier, better, and doesn't break the bank! Raising kids is very expensive. We as parents want products that are cheaper and more variety, but are better made. For example, I sent my husband to the store to but some diapers because we were almost out. Well long story short, he bought the cheapest ones, not the store brand but the one below that. If you know which ones I mean. I don't want to mention any brands... But let me tell you, those were not any good. They leaked very bad and didn't hold anything. So after changing clothes, the bed, and giving a midnight bath. I had to make a run to the store to get the diapers I normally use. So that was a lesson learned!
~ Stacey

Research!! Research!! Research!!

I can't tell you guys enough to do research. There are so many different marketing tools available for parenting it's unreal. Buy books, or get them from the library. You can even watch video's, read magazine's, etc. There is unlimited marketing materials out there for new parents, or old ones that feel they need to read up on their skills. There are focus groups too. Join a group or a mommy and child group. The kids can play while you talk with other parents about anything!
~ Stacey

Working mommy

Most moms either have to go back to work or they are a stay at home mom. Either way it is work. I'm very lucky to have found a job that allows me to bring my baby with me. This is such a blessing!
I looked at the cost of child care and let me tell you, it is outrageous! Depending on where you live prices range anywhere from $95 to $250 a week. Among those choices could be a daycare center at school, most are churches, or even independent childcare centers. I battled with several of these choices and even turned down a job because I couldn't justify spending that much on childcare every week. But then I got very lucky and found a job for a small business owner and he has allowed me to bring my baby. So I'm one lucky and blessed mommy! I hope all the other moms and even dads have a good plan for child care. Truthfully staying at home to raise them I believe is the best way to go if you have that option.
~Stacey

Marketing products to new moms

Wow, so let me say if you have never had a child  be aware of all of the hidden cost. You can never be totally prepared for childhood. There are so many products out there that you didn't know you would need until you need it. Like for instance a cool mist humidifier. Sure we all use the warm mist ones or you may have used the cool mist ones. But for infants you can not use a warm mist or use any camphor with a child.  And the prices of these products range from $30-$75 for a number of good brands.
Also if your child has any type of tummy issues, like acid reflux.. Well be prepared for many doctors visits, prescriptions, gas drops, gripe water etc. Not to mention you have to keep a stock pile on hand weekly.
There are just so many things children need, so how do you decide which ones? By trial an error? Word of Mouth? Books? Ads? Any of the above is some type of marketing. My best advise so far is all of it.
~ Stacey

Hello!

So hello everyone!
Let me start out by introducing myself and of course the baby.
My name is Stacey, I'm married and we have one child. We have a baby boy, his name is Preston. He is our first baby and I guess I'm a little biased but hey isn't everyone at this point... well he is absolutely beautiful and perfect! Preston was born in January of this year, and well as you can guess from my link I'm 36 years old. It took so so so long to be able to have a baby, but after surgery and prayers we have been so blessed beyond measure to say the least. Long story short I had a miscarriage, that led to wanting to know why, so I had a septated uterus that led to surgery... Who knew? Anyways that led to finally being able to have a baby.. And let me say, for a first time pregnancy it was great. I never had morning sickness, cravings, mood swings, until I was 33 weeks pregnant. Then Christmas Eve, I was put in the hospital with pre term labor and Preeclampsia. So after close monitoring, medicine and strict bedrest, we were okay to go home. I had to go too the  doctor almost every 2 days. Then 37 weeks along I was put back in the hospital to be monitored for high blood pressure, the next day I was released. Only to go too my doctor's appointment and be put back in the hospital. At this point I felt like a yoyo and I was just so tired. But little did I know as soon as I got in a room I went into full active labor. He was early and transverse-
sideways. So by the time I was prepped for surgery my husband and family were able to get to the hospital quickly. We were finally having Preston!! Oh it was so wonderful to finally say that! After that, we had to stay in a week, he had fluid in his lungs, it was so scary and nerve wracking to not be able to hold your baby until 3 days after he was born. I cried so much. But when I finally did, oh the joy I felt in my heart! Unlike anything I've ever felt!
I guess this is enough starter story for now. Keep tuned in!

~ Stacey