Marketing is everything when it comes to the success of a small business. Not only is marketing the action of promoting your business and products/services, but it also includes research and advertising. This helps to get your business seen by as many people as possible, and here’s three tips on how to successfully market your business.
#1: Create a Strong Online Presence
Having an online presence is extremely helpful when running a small business. Being online helps people find your business through Google searches and through ads on blogs and social media.
Build a Business Website
Building a website that your audience will love is essential to the success of your business. All businesses should have a website— even if you’re only a local business. The reason is because we live in a highly digital world, where almost everything can be done online. Your business website is your landing page for:
- The official name of your business
- What products you sell/services you provide
- Your hours of operation/days you’re open
- Your business’s address and phone number
Your website should also include an “About” page where visitors can find out more about your business. There should also be a contact email along with your business phone number.
Keep Active on Social Media
Having a presence on social media is just as important as having a website in today’s digital age. Nowadays, social media is used as an effective marketing tool as well as a way to connect with others. Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are some of the biggest social media sites when it comes to marketing your business online. These platforms also offer tools to business owners to help them see how well they’re performing and what changes they can make to reach more people.
#2: Place Your Logo on as Many Items as Possible
Your company logo is only a small piece of your brand identity, but it’s very helpful in promoting your business to both your current and potential customers. Placement of your logo is extremely important, and there are many places to put it.
Important Forms
All business emails, letters, invoices, and other forms should include your logo. Branded materials like these show a sign of professionalism and help bring more awareness to your business.
Online
Obviously, the first place you’ll want to put your logo is online. It should be clearly visible on your business website, and it should also be set as your profile picture on all of your social media pages. This will get your customers/clients familiar with your brand, and they’ll be more likely to remember your company.
Products and Packaging
For businesses that sell products to customers, this logo placement is pretty obvious as well. Your logo can be placed on just about any item you sell— even if you sell perishable items, your logo can be placed on the packaging. Businesses that sell clothing can benefit from having their logo placed on clothing labels from Wunderlabel.
Businesses that provide services to clients/customers don’t have tangible products or packaging, but they can place their logos on company apparel such as T-shirts. They can also benefit from having promotional items, such as pens, keychains, etc.
Vehicles, Building, and Networking Items
The majority of business owners know how important it is to have business cards for networking purposes, and that their company name and logo should be visibly displayed on their building for easy recognition. Your company name and logo should also be displayed on your company vehicle if you have one. When your phone number and social media handles are included, this acts as another way of advertising when you’re driving through the city.
#3: Take Advantage of the Various Marketing Strategies
Marketing is a strategy in and of itself, but it can also be broken down into more specific types of strategies. Some of the most successful types of marketing are in the form of digital marketing, with the best strategies being:
- Content Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Social Media Marketing
It’s important for business owners to know the basics of these marketing strategies, or to hire a marketing firm that specializes in all of these areas.
Marketing must be consistent in order to be successful, and changes must be made when one strategy isn’t working. Because there are so many strategies to try, each business is bound to find the strategy that works the best.
