If you are serious about venturing into your local community and beginning your marketing program, pay attention to these 8 keys.

KEY 1: EASY to Use! Whatever you are attemtping to do or are thinking of doing- it must be easy to do or you will find reasons not to do it. Trust me.

KEY 2: PLANNED! Local Store Marketing must start with a written plan of action. Nothing complex mind you, just an instruction manual for getting from point A to point B.

KEY 3: NOT COST PROHIBITIVE! Good LSM should be many things, but expensive is not one of them. Local Store Marketing relies on being creative not on writing checks and praying for results.

KEY 4: QUICK! I start new programs with clients on the same day and look for results 7 days later.

KEY 5: APPLIED CONSISTENTLY! Marketing is not an event. Marketing is a perpetual process that you must engage in on a routine basis. Put your nose to the grindstone and commit yourself. Results favor the persistent.

KEY 6: MEASURED AND TRACKED! If you do not measure and track the results of your efforts, how will you know which programs are making you cash and which are not?

KEY 7: BALANCED! One or two LSM tactics are simply not enough. You need multiple programs in order to find out what really works in your area.

KEY 8: SCHEDULED! Assign this responsibility to someone, devise a regular, UNINTERRUPTED, schedule and run your program.