Start Marketing to Small Businesses on Campus

Some vendors that sell to small businesses go for a “start with them small and grow with them” strategy.  They try to earn the loyalty of small businesses while those businesses are still fledgling efforts  – startups or one-person businesses.  Then as the businesses grow the vendor up-sells to higher level offerings, all the while retaining highly loyal customers.

You might not only want to think in terms of very small businesses, but also think about how to get at very young businesses.

The National Federation of Independent Business suggests that college campuses can be great places to “make contacts, introduce new products and sell, sell, sell.”  In an article entitled, “The Next Big Thing,”  they outline techniques for selling on campus. 

While the article is geared toward college students selling consumer items to fellow students, it also triggers specific ideas about getting to those budding business owners while they are still young.  Don’t wait until they are out of school and have already formed loyalties with your competitors.