No matter the stage or size of your business, marketing can help attract new customers and boost sales. Small business owners may lack time, resources or money for marketing activities but there are numerous effective strategies available that can reach potential clients.
Utilizing multiple avenues at once can increase reach and brand recognition. Some options for doing this are online, traditional and experiential marketing.
Online Marketing
Small businesses should choose the appropriate form of online marketing for their budget and customer demographic, including websites, social media, email campaigns, blogging and others.
Blogging can be an inexpensive and effective way to promote a business and build an audience, yet it’s essential that each post contains targeted keywords for better SEO. Furthermore, business accounts should also be established on popular social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook and Instagram to increase visibility by engaging with followers on these channels.
Traditional marketing – including print ads in newspapers, magazines and billboards – is another effective way of spreading the word about a business. Additionally, events and trade shows provide opportunities to connect with potential customers and expand brand recognition.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a fantastic way to drive sales because it engages with customers who have consented to receive your emails. Emails can be used to promote sales, events, new products or services as well as build loyalty and brand recognition with customers.
Maintain deliverability when writing emails by keeping deliverability top of mind. Avoid words that trigger spam filters and regularly clean your list, then segment your database so recipients are seeing information they want.
Partnership with influencers can be an excellent way to expand the marketing efforts of small businesses. Influencers possess large online followings that can help spread word of your product or service; the key is working with an influential marketing agency that can provide you with connections to influencers that align with your product or service offering.
Direct Mail
Direct mail marketing involves sending direct marketing pieces in physical form. These mailers might include discount coupons, invites to your local business or even small gifts with the goal of persuading people to open it – such as vibrant envelopes with unusual sizes or shapes and distinctive content that may compel people to open it and take the desired action.
Direct mail advertising can be particularly effective for small businesses targeting Baby Boomers or others less tech savvy who tend to trust traditional methods of promotion more readily than digital ones. Furthermore, this method can also generate sales leads and follow up on abandoned online carts or welcome kits sent out for new customers.
Print Advertising
Print advertising is a form of marketing which uses printed materials such as brochures or direct mailers to reach a broad range of customers on a large scale.
Print advertising provides several advantages over online or other forms of media advertising, including its placement within publications your target audience reads and its ability to build brand recognition and trust with readers. Furthermore, including a call-to-action in your print ads allows readers to understand exactly what action to take next.
Print ads tend to remain visible for longer without being disruptive, creating an increased sense of value among viewers that digital ads cannot. This helps build brand loyalty and sales.
Social Media
Social media marketing is an effective way to build brand recognition and attract new customers, whether through regular posts on your social media accounts or with paid advertising campaigns.
Small businesses can leverage social media to inform their followers about promotions, sales and new offerings. Furthermore, they can drive traffic back to their website by linking directly from posts in their feed or stories.
Social media for small business marketing is an ideal option because it enables them to connect with their target audiences at an economical cost. Many small companies also utilize tools such as Google Analytics for this purpose and the data derived by it helps improve ROI and enhance return on investment (ROI).