Solo business owners searching for successful marketing options can choose from these four ideas that can either be completed independently or with help from affordable sources.

1. Create an informal advisory board comprised of business associates in other industries. Such a group can be formed with the people who provide you with services as well as others with whom you share a professional relationship.

Tell them what you want to achieve, or explain the types of individuals and companies you’re looking to service. In return, ask them how they plan to build their businesses and what role you can play in helping them do so.

2. Attend conferences or seminars outside of your industry. Use the Internet to access convention center calendars to find upcoming shows. Many of these gatherings have a trade show component. This is beneficial if searching for sales and marketing executives who are on-site and ready to hear how your business benefits theirs.

These events will reveal how to better position your business to serve other industries, and you’ll talk to individuals who are best in line to help you win new accounts.

3. Develop projects that lift you out of the everyday comfort zone. This requires making time for a good, old-fashioned brainstorming session to decide how to take your business to the next level.

Use a computer software program or spiral pad and pen for the session to plot each goal and corresponding objectives. Be ready to practice the most-difficult part: staying focused and not sidestepping this important task.

4. Outsource the paperwork. Why spend valuable time inputting client names and addresses when a virtual assistant or other type of offsite support is ready for work?

Identify the tasks that can be completed by an independent contractor. Consider all of the jobs that don’t contain sensitive information, which are perfect to give to part-time help.

 

Outsourcing services usually charge around $25 per hour. You’ll find the fee to be money well spent, especially when you see how much is accomplished while you work directly on revenue-generating projects.

It’s easy to try adding all four tips to your plan. However, it’s best to work on one or two ideas first, incorporating the rest at a later date.