Marketing a small business can seem like a daunting task. Between not having enough hours in the day and not knowing where to start, it may feel a bit overwhelming. Here are some ideas to help get the ball rolling.
Tip #1: Create Instructional Videos
It has been said for quite some time now and it is extremely true – video is king. While it can cost big bucks to get professional YouTube videos produced, there’s nothing wrong with giving it a shot yourself or hiring a freelancer for a minimal fee. In fact, making a video with a home-made feel has plenty of benefits to it, namely being able to put a personal touch to it. Do you feel like your a bit tech-illiterate? Not to worry as there are plenty of tutorials out there that will walk you through creating a great video in no time on your cell phone.
Tip #2: Utilize Social Networks
Boosted and paid advertisements on social media platforms have become incredibly important, especially for small businesses, as the gates that filter content to users are constantly changing. In fact, paid ads were expected to generate $11 billion in revenue in 2017, showing just how important advertising on social media platforms is becoming.
And it’s hard to argue with their success — 76 percent of B2C content marketers in North America used promoted posts in 2016, with 61 percent reporting these posts were effective. Social ads ranked slightly lower, with 74 percent of B2C marketers using them and 59 percent reporting them effective.
Tip #3: Sponsor an Organization or Event
Many local organizations and events are not that expensive to sponsor for a year if you consider the so-called per meeting cost. If your product or service is a good fit for their audience, you will get exposure every time the organization sends out an e-mail and a mention every time they meet. Attendees always remember and appreciate companies who sponsor their favorite organizations.
Tip #4: Blog, blog, blog
If you’ve been in the marketing industry the past few years, you know that blogging is a trend that virtually every business has adopted. Blogging is a great way to utilize search engine optimization practices and get your small business noticed. Unfortunately, many businesses focus on frequency and forget the importance of quality.
By optimizing your website for search engines with quality blog posts, your business will appear at the top of search results for topics related to your service offering. This will lead to more visitors to your website, increase your leads, and help your organization grow.
You can post a blog with keywords every week, but unless the content is valuable, you will lose the interest of your readers. The effectiveness of your blogging is going to be based on exciting and informative content. Accomplishing this might mean hiring an expert in your industry or scheduling your own time to draft a quality post each month.
As a business owner, time is a coveted resource. Marketing is vital to bringing in new customers and revenue. Use these idea-starters and find ways to work them into your marketing routine; you’re sure to see an increase in business.