Small businesses these days cannot rely only on the good word of their customers. To succeed, they have to get out there and actually market themselves. Doing so, however, is intimidating. Some small businesses fear this idea because of costs and the idea that it is too complicated. Truthfully, though, there are cost effective and manageable options out there. By taking advantage of these options, it is possible to see growth. Below are only four options, but there are plenty more out there to consider when trying to market your business, whether it is to a local or global audience.
- Go Social
Because the appearance of marketing using social media appeared so quickly, many businesses may see it as a passing fad that isn’t worth their time. The statistics say otherwise, showing that 92% of marketers in 2014 claimed that social media marketing was important for their business, with 80% indicating their efforts increased traffic to their websites. And, 97% of marketers are currently participating in social media—but 85% of participants aren’t sure what social media tools are the best to use. Marketing via social media can increase your brand recognition and brand loyalty, create more opportunities to convert and higher conversion rates, higher brand authority, increased inbound traffic, decreased marketing costs, better search engine ratings, richer customer experiences and improved customer insights.
- Create Webinars
Some marketers may think that webinars are over used and underrated, but you should not underestimate the power of a good webinar. If you can teach your audience about something, do it. If you can bring people in and make them pay attention to you, do it. Find out what your customers and potential customers want to learn, then deliver beyond their expectations. When they like what they hear through a free service, they may choose you for your paid services in the future.
- Have a Marketing Plan Tailored to Your Business
Never copy someone else’s marketing plan. Even if you are looking at what a major company does, you do not want to follow them exactly. A marketing plan should suit the needs and interests of your business. This means it should fit the audience, the budget, the products or services, and everything else about the business itself. When coming up with the marketing plan for your business, here are a few questions you should ask: Can you give prospects, customers and the public useful information related to your product? Can you be a show off (in a good way)? Can you tap into people’s passions and/or hobbies?
- Invest in a Good Package from Professionals
Sometimes you put good money after bad by trying to do your own marketing. You might not realize how many affordable marketing services are out there. According to Brian Scully of PR Underground, “If you are inexperienced with PR and looking for press stories written about your business, a connected PR firm or publicist is going to be your best bet, as they should understand what is effective when it comes to getting attention.” Costs will suit you as a small business and the return on your investment will make the money worth it. If you can find a trusted source for the work, too, that will help you to gain the most from hiring a pro. A pro’s focus should be on affordable, high quality services that help you to gain the most from your investment and from marketing.
As you can see, marketing your business cost-effectively is an achievable goal. With just a little know-how, and knowing when to contact a professional, you can make the most of your marketing budget and see the returns of your investment.
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