Marketing and advertisements have become a force on their own. Our mental image of a city often includes large billboards with advertisements of expensive brands, or neon lights that say an establishment’s name, or even video clips of short commercials shown through an LCD propped up in a bus or train station.
Without a doubt, there is money to be made in properly advertising your products and services. But why don’t small business owners put their efforts into it then? Perhaps because of a commonly held but misplaced assumption that marketing is expensive. However, there is some truth to this statement- marketing does cost something, at least to a certain extent. But it’s not expensive nor out of reach by small businesses. If anything, the cost you put in marketing will most probably be recouped by the new clients that you will get through it.
But for small businesses, what steps should they take to enhance their marketing campaign? Below are a few tips.
Know Who Your Target Is
Your whole marketing budget will go to waste if you’re marketing to thin air. That’s why it’s important to create a profile of your target market. Find out their common age, gender, job, and other information. This helps you narrow down what your client base is interested in, where they may normally frequent, and the best way to reach them. Not only will these help you save money by advertising to those most likely to purchase your products, but it also increases your brand awareness among those within the community. This helps you build your reputation and, hopefully, turn more leads into customers.
Create a Marketing Plan
No general goes to war without a good strategy, and the same applies to business owners. Before you roll out a budget for marketing, you need to create a definite marketing plan. Decide what type of medium you will be using, and familiarize yourself with its nuances and quirks. How long will you be running the ad campaign? Where will you put your ads? How much will you spend on expenses, and do you have any projected earnings off this drive? Asking yourself these kinds of questions helps you create a better shape for your plan.
Build a Website with an Online Shop
Online commerce is among the driving force of the global economy, and it looks like it will continue being like so for the next few years. That’s why businesses need to keep up with the times and have their own website. Most companies already have an internet presence of some sort, but having a website as a hub for your clients to look at your catalog, contact you, or even purchase from an online shop, will make a world of difference.
Connect with Your Customers via Social Media
Social media is a relatively recent innovation that’s making waves in popularity. And where the people go, marketers follow. It’s the best place to show off your brand and products. But beyond picturesque and aesthetic photos of your items, social media also allows you to connect with your clients on a more personal level. By being part of their newsfeed, your business becomes a daily presence in their life, making them more likely to become repeat customers. You can also observe your client’s interactions and, through their conversations, understand what they may want or need.
Use Business Cards
Business cards will never go out of style- they show your pride as a business owner or a manager, and they make great tools for advertising too. Create business cards for your business, and provide some to your trusted employees. Make your business cards unique and interesting too. For example, you can have a business card that looks like a garage door if you own a repair shop or a business card with the scent of flowers if you’re a florist. Despite their rather formal and firm reputation, business cards are something that you can casually bring up whenever a normal conversation turns into business. They help convey your company’s brand, and by extension, yours as well.
Join Local Events
A great way to boost your company’s popularity is by joining local events. You can sponsor small, community-level events in your area to show your support, at the same time, be seen by people who will most likely be your primary customers. Another way to gain popularity is by joining fairs and trade shows, or even local festival markets. These events often have many people and make for a great first impression to potential customers.
With these ideas in mind, you can capture the attention of potential clients and customers. You can widen your business reach and achieve growth and success easily.
