Owning and operating a small business is a very challenging, yet rewarding endeavor. There is a lot that goes into running a successful business. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to succeed. And, as a small business, you have to work twice as hard to stay afloat. You have to compete with, not only other small businesses, but the big players as well.
But there is a lot you can do to ensure you gain the upper hand with your business. And today we are going to help you get a better grasp on how to properly market your small business. Marketing is perhaps the most vital component of a businesses success. But the way you market your small business will be quite a bit different from the techniques employed by a huge company like Amazon.
Eye Catching Marketing
The first step is to ensure you have created a brand that is eye-catching and memorable. You might have noticed a trend lately that a lot of larger companies have started making their branding more minimalist. Minimalism is very in at the moment. But, for a small business, this isn’t always the best route to go.
That isn’t to say a minimalist logo can’t be effective. But it depends on what you are trying to sell. Let’s look at the wewash24’s laundry service logo as a prime example. They have used a sleek, colorful design with a clever use of a coat hanger within the logo to get across their businesses primary focus. The logo is readable, bright, and recognizable at a glance. This is the sort of thing you want to create for your business.
Local Exposure
Once you have created all your branding the next step is to generate a lot of local exposure. This is mostly concerned with using physical advertising methods. Magazines and adverts in your local papers are extremely effective. Especially if your target demographic is a bit older. You should also consider putting adverts at bus stations and on billboards if possible. These methods are often relatively cheap and extremely effective.
One of the most effective methods of generating local exposure is by creating advertisements to be played on local TV and radio stations. A radio advert is very useful if, again, you are targeting an older demographic. Most young people don’t listen to the radio that often. But those who commute to work daily, or those who are retired, still do fairly regularly.
A TV advert is likely to reach a wide audience. But you need to ensure the production quality is fairly high. The quality of your marketing will tell people about the level of professionalism and service your company offers. So make sure to spend as much time and money as you possibly can on it.
Social Media
Social media is the most powerful marketing tool for any small business. In our digital age if you aren’t using social media, you aren’t going to succeed. TikTok, Instagram,and Facebook are the three platforms you definitely need to be utilizing for your business. And the biggest upside is that they are all free to use. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be spending any money on your social media marketing.
Facebook is great for presenting a more formal view of your business. The platform is mostly used by the older generation now. So we recommend putting clear and exact information about your opening hours, services offered, and any deals you have running on here. Instagram is perfect for displaying your products and services. Make sure you are taking high quality photos and videos and keeping to a consistent upload schedule. Instagram reel highlights are also an amazing tool for presenting vital information about your businesses opening hours and various product menus.
TikTok is useful if you are targeting a younger demographic. It is a more informal platform and is great for connecting with your local community. Many small businesses get their staff involved in making content for their business. It can be used to highlight the working culture you have at your business and is also a great tool for networking with other businesses in your area.
