5 Easy Marketing Tips For Small Businesses

Small businesses are commonly referred to as the backbone of the economy, and for good reason. They create jobs, innovate new products and ways of doing things, and are often rooted in local communities. Wufoo started as a small business and we know that small businesses dream big. We also know that turning those dreams into marketing ideas can be tricky.

Marketing tips for small businesses

1. Make sure your marketing has a solid foundation

The most effective marketing ideas come from a thorough understanding of your brand and your customers or prospects. Before you determine the best marketing strategies for your business, make sure you are clear on a few things:

Do you know who your audience is?

Small businesses tend to have a more specific audience than larger corporations. Knowing who this audience is will help you understand what they want and how you can help. There are many ways to learn more about people who already buy your product or support your business.

Do you understand the value you provide?

Customer satisfaction surveys can be useful for hearing first-hand what customers think about your product or service. The feedback, especially compared to the competition, may surprise you. When you have a good understanding of your audience and your value proposition, your marketing strategies can flow from there.

2. Create or improve your digital presence

A strong online presence is essential for small businesses these days. But you should do more than just exist online. Don’t just have a Yelp page update it regularly, respond to reviews, and consider offering discounts and deals through Yelp. Don’t just have a website make sure it accurately reflects your brand, is easy to navigate, has up-to-date information and clearly directs customers to contact forms or your social media pages.

A blog can not only help establish your expertise in the market, but also inform customers about the benefits, value and most useful uses of your product. Additionally, you can include calls to action to encourage blog visitors to learn more about your products, sign up for email newsletters, or subscribe to your service.

3. Keep the message consistent and reinforce it often

This is where knowing your audience and your value proposition really goes a long way. If you know who you’re marketing to and why your brand or product resonates with them, you can make sure your message is targeted, meaningful and consistent. In an age where products and services are largely commoditized, building your brand can make all the difference. Take a good look at your messages across all channels, from emails and promotional materials to customer support and product announcements.

4. Target your customers and prospects where they are and with the content they are looking for

Another thing about knowing your audience is that you can then target customers and prospects in a more personal and relevant way. This applies to advertisements, emails and any other communication between you and your network. Focus on providing tips, insights and information based on what people are interested in and how familiar they are with your products.

5. Have the right tools

When it comes to small business marketing, you don’t have to go it alone. There are all kinds of tools, including free ones, that can support and develop your marketing strategies. If you’re looking to build your social media presence, you may want to invest in a solution to help you manage all your platforms, such as Sprout or Hootsuite.

Conclusion

Small business owners looking for a way to track ROI and brand awareness need digital marketing. Not only is digital marketing essential for promoting your products or services, but optimizing your online assets is also critical to the overall success of your business.