There are 31.7 million small businesses that account for 67% of all new jobs in the US.
Nearly three-quarters invest in social media to promote themselves. Eighty-four percent use at least one digital platform to share their services. Yet many still don’t know how to market a small business properly in 2021.
This article provides 9 effective small business marketing tips to better sell yourself.
Read on to understand some essential online and offline techniques. Learn the benefits of marketing by creating unique content. And watch your customer list grow by always networking wherever you are.
1. Understand Your Audience
The answer to marketing a business always centers on your audience and their expectations. Many small business owners achieve this by creating buyer personas.
A buyer persona represents your ideal customer based on market research. It considers factors like:
- Customer demographics
- Behavior patterns
- Motivations and goals
This ‘ideal’ will dictate your marketing strategy moving forward.
2. Always Network
Successful entrepreneurs realize that they are the business. If they market themselves effectively they market their company effectively.
Never be afraid of interacting with everyone around you and sharing about your business.
Be passionate but not overbearing. Let them see your exuberance and sales will follow as a result.
3. Digital Content Marketing
If you don’t already have a website then get one built pronto. Customers expect to see you online and will choose a competitor if you aren’t.
But how can you market yourself through your site?
Adding the right content will benefit both your visitors and Google. The right digital content marketing strategies encourage repeat viewing and higher sales.
4. Email Marketing
Add an email subscription form to your site.
Use inexpensive but powerful tools like MailChimp.com to manage your subscriber lists. You can create unlimited campaigns and track the results online. And the service is free for under 2,000 subscribers.
5. Email Signatures
Speaking of emails, don’t forget to include your business contact details in your email signature.
However, don’t annoy your friends or customers with lengthy business marketing messages or images. Keep things simple, with a link to your website and social media pages and telephone number.
6. Social Media Business Page
Facebook isn’t just about sharing cat photos. Create a free business page and tap into your existing social network to promote it.
You can then interact with other users and even link your posts to your website for cross-brand promotion.
7. Carry Business Cards
Don’t underestimate the power of a business card, even in 2021.
There are 27 million business cards printed daily and for good reason. Emails get deleted, phone contacts get erased. But a business card stands out and it promotes your credibility and professionalism.
8. Claim Your Google Listing
Google My Business is a free service that lets you create a company listing directly on Google Search.
You must have an offline store but you can add:
- Contact details
- Driving directions
- Opening hours
It’s simple to set up and you can edit the content as much as you want. You can even view usage statistics in the dashboard.
9. Ask for Reviews
Nearly 90% of customers trust Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor through their reviews. But how do you create reviews for your business?
By simply asking your existing customers and friends.
Make sure not to sponsor fake reviews. Keep them legit. And those reviews will grow organically with your success.
More Small Business Marketing Tips
Access more small business marketing tips and marketing strategies in our business section.
Remember to bookmark our site. And share this post on social media with feedback on which tips worked best.