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Bargain, Bargain, Bargain!

So, are you the kind of person who never seems to get a great deal? Some folks just seem to have a knack for finding great ales and low prices. Those bargain hunters always have a smile on their face, too.

Even if you haven't been a member of the El Cheapo Club before, as a small business owner, you will learn to fall into the group quickly. Finding a good deal is one of the best ways to save money. And, as we all know, saving money is a great way to make even more of it.

Okay, so you should keep your eyes open for Sunday specials at the office supply store. "What in the world does this have to do with marketing?" you may be asking.

Well, there are places other than paperclips for you to save money and one of them is on marketing. Consider this chapter a mini boot camp in learning not to be rack price for advertising or marketing services.

That's right, it's time for you to start haggling, negotiating, bargaining, and seeking discounts. You will be shocked at the results. With a little good bargaining, you can cut your marketing expenses in half.

The most important thing about this to remember is that the people with whom you are dealing are, in large measure, going the through what you going through. They want more income. They need to make more sales. They are motivated. They are willing to negotiate a little bit.

Ask yourself this. Has there ever been a time when you would have been willing to sell your product or service for less than the regular price? Exactly.

The same goes for the person on the opposite side of the desk from you. He or she is going to be willing to sell at a reduced price sometimes. When? Who knows! The only way to find out is to ask.

The best small business owners are, by and large, tightwads. Once they start prodding for discounts and bargains, they become almost addicted to shaving costs. That's because they soon learn that most marketing vendors have more wiggle room than they might have thought.

Display advertising in print is a perfect example. In almost every case, the rate quoted by the salesperson is, in reality, little more than a starting point for a discussion.

Many new small business owners don't realize that the sales staff can get clearance drop cost in order to bring in more advertisers. They fail to ask for a better price and pay more than necessary.

If you find a copywriter who quotes you a thousand bucks for a project, find out if he or she will bite at eight hundred. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all. If you are looking for someone to handle flyer distribution, find out if you can get the rate down just a little bit.

Every dollar counts when you are operating with a shoestring marketing budget. You need to prepared to fight for the best possible price every step of the way.