Owning a small business is an awesome experience that takes lots of hard work and energy to make successful. One of the biggest responsibilities you have as a small business owner is marketing your company. Whether you are a one-person operation or you have a staff to help you out, how you enforce your marketing strategies will help the public become aware of your business. Here are some great ideas for marketing your small business that are easy to implement.
Use Your Social Media Outlets
Social media is here to stay, so it is best to use it to your advantage. Not only does a small business need a presence on social media sites, but you need to use it to actively advertise your business. You can pay for advertising opportunities on various social media sites, but that can get expensive. There are also plenty of ways you can advertise for free on the same sites. One of the easiest and most effective moves you can make is to encourage your customers to leave reviews on your profile. That way, potential customers can see first-hand what a great company you have. You can also use your social media pages to post information about upcoming specials, online contests and new products.
Pass out Free Samples
If you sell a product that people can easily use, pass out some samples. This idea works particularly if you sell food. Allowing potential customers to try something out before they buy it is a sure-fire way to bring them in, especially if the product is exceptionally good. If a free sample does not work for the product you sell, consider offering a free trial instead.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is still an effective way to get your message out to lots of people in a short period of time. Not only will an email marketing campaign work for a short-term promotion, but it also helps to breed long-term relationships with customers.
Sponsor a Local Youth Sports Team
Sponsoring a local youth sports team is often overlooked as a form of marketing, but it can be one of the best decisions you make as a small business owner. You can get immediate recognition by having your company’s name plastered all over the uniforms of kids on your team. But, the advertising does not stop there. The parents of the kids on your team will immediately become actual customers because they love supporting businesses that support their kids. Plus, you can guarantee that they will tell their friends and family to use your business, too. Not to mention, sponsoring a youth sports team will also show that you are civically-minded and concerned about the community, which will also bring in business. There is no way you can lose with this one.
Create Helpful and Useful Content
As a business owner, you know a lot about your industry and how to build a business. Use your vast knowledge as a way to help people by creating useful content. As you create and post content, other people in the industry will begin to see you as an innovator and influencer, and your credibility will soar. You can also start a blog and post it on your website for current and potential customers to find. You can even post it on your social media pages, so it gets shared and increases your reach. The more content you create, the better your chances of increasing your customer base and improving your bottom line.
Utilize Coupon Deal Sites
This idea is not particularly new, but it has been around for a long time because it is effective. Using coupon deal sites is a great way to promote any business or service. Sites like Groupon and Local Flavor reach a massive audience both locally and nationally. You can easily offer limited-time deals that can attract a large amount of people to your business. These sites have several benefits including massive exposure, targeted local advertising, increased brand awareness and attracting new customers.
Host an Event
Consider hosting an event or class that is centered around your product or service. You can open your store after hours and hold the event on-site. If you run your business online, you can host a webinar. You can use this event to highlight your experience and demonstrate the features and benefits of your products. If it is impossible for you to host an event of this nature, consider having a booth at local events instead.
Marketing your small business well is vitally important to its success. But, it does not require you to be a marketing genius. Try a few of these options and watch how your business grows. If you would like more information on how to market your small business, contact Business Marketing Engine today.