For most small businesses, marketing isn’t usually accorded the importance it deserves. The majority of small business owners rely on word of mouth and luck when it comes to attracting new customers. However, this often doesn’t work in the long run. Marketing goes a long way in consistently providing you with new leads. At the same time, marketing also promotes brand awareness. If you are keen on growing your small business, here are seven marketing ideas that you should embrace.
1. Create an SEO-Friendly Website
Before you can think of other marketing strategies, you must have a search-engine-optimized website. Your rankings significantly determine your website’s visibility. An SEO-friendly site will bring more traffic to your site, boosting the number of conversions.
There are a lot of things involved in creating an SEO-friendly site. First, you must engage in thorough keyword research. From there, you should include these keywords in your web content. Your content has to be perfect if you want to reap the fruits of SEO. You should also remember that on-page isn’t the only type of SEO. Local and off-page SEO also plays a critical role in search engine rankings.
2. Tell Your Brand Story
Modern-day consumers are enthusiastic about connecting with businesses. Clients want to know who you are and why you are in this business. That can best be addressed by telling your brand story. For most small businesses, this shouldn’t be an issue. Unlike big corporations, small businesses usually have interesting brand stories.
Did you decide to launch this business out of passion? Tell your customers what drove you into this line of work. Through brand stories, customers can feel much closer to your business, leading to loyalty.
3. Utilize Social Media Marketing
As a small business owner, chances are you are working with a small marketing budget. One of the most affordable yet effective marketing platforms is on social media. It may require more effort, but the results will be worth it.
Through social media, you can grow your brand’s awareness and reputation. As you venture into social media marketing, ensure that you use a suitable platform. Focus on platforms where most of your audiences are active in. Ensure you are always online and engage with your audience. Do not be too salesy as that may scare some followers. Stay updated with hashtags, and everything should work out just fine. Social media is always evolving. You, therefore, have to stay on high alert if you want to use this platform to grow your business.
4. Run a Rewards and Referral Program
Another marketing strategy to grow your small business is running a referral and rewards program. After quality products and service, the second thing clients love the most are rewards. If you want to succeed in running a small business, you must think from a customer’s perspective.
Start an initiative where you give rewards to customers who complete certain actions. For instance, if your customers sign up for a newsletter or follow you on social media, you can reward them. The reward mustn’t be expensive or complex, be creative. Also, a referral program can be an excellent source of new leads. For instance, you can give discounts to customers who refer others.
5. Keep an Eye on Analytics
Developing and executing marketing strategies is only part of the journey. You should always be keen on analytics. Data and analytics help you identify the weaknesses and strengths of your marketing campaigns. There are a bunch of marketing tools out there. Look for those that fit your budget. Some of these tools are available for free.
6. Establish Yourself as an Industry Expert
Your fellow competitors are engaging in the same marketing techniques as you are. You need to go the extra mile and establish your business as an industry expert to stand out. How do you achieve that? First, you can start a blog and discuss various issues. Secondly, you can join social forums and offer expert advice. Thirdly, you can even launch a podcast and discuss common topics in your niche.
7. Create and Share Explainer Videos
Explainer videos can make your business grow twice as fast than others. These tutorials offer immense value to customers, especially if you have just launched an innovative product. Even for regular products, an explainer video covers everything a user may need to know. It’s, therefore, a very useful piece of information.
For small businesses struggling with growth, these marketing tips can nudge you in the right direction. If you run into any challenges, you can always consult the experts at Marvel Marketing. Be it SEO, social media, brand awareness, or marketing analytics. We have extensive experience in providing such solutions. Give us a call via 1-800-427-7113, and we can incorporate proven marketing techniques that will promote growth for your small business.
