Depending on how new your business is, your time may be better spent on sales instead. What we are talking about is a new start-up company, who have very few clients/customers if any.

If this is the case you are in, then you should start pounding the pavement and trying your hand at sales. This is definitely the fastest way to gain new customers. Marketing is intended to keep your sales pipeline full of potential leads and new contacts. However the process can take longer to generate the right leads. And you as the business owner will probably have to do the in person sales yourself, at least in the beginning.

There are some interesting discussions on selling start-up ideas and products to early adopters. Even before the products or business exists, the real storytellers are the sales people that can get people excited about new ideas. Only you have the vision of what your new business is about and can satisfy the naysayers who are apprehensive of working with a new and unproven company or vendor.

You can read more at “Selling the Startup” for ideas on how to sell your new business to potential buyers.

The key take away is you need to create “Believers”, people who believe in what you are doing and want to help you succeed. Whether they are early investors, or existing contacts, colleagues or family and friends. In the beginning you need someone who will help you refine your sales pitch or provided early feedback on your product. And where they might use such a product or service.

Once you have your first couple of clients you will have material to start your marketing program. Including case studies, referrals, testimonials and the like.

After you sign your new client, or sell your first product. You will be ready to start marketing, and you will find a lot of marketing ideas on this site for marketing your newly opened business.

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