Whether your business is new or has been established for a while, it is important to make your customers aware of it! In the cacophony of ads and bigger businesses in the industry, you should aim to make your business stand out. How can you do that?
Share your story
Small businesses and startups always begin with a mission- what made you want to do this? Your customers like to know why you do what you do. Did you start your bakery in memory of your grandma, who used to make cookies for you after school? Did you have a friend who needed a service you could offer, and then you kept getting more interest?
Origin stories, and information about who you are as a business owner can make your business feel more personal. People will gravitate towards your passion, and choose your business over others if they feel like they know you. Think about a small business that you love- why do you love it so much? Use that as your inspiration and write down the story and mission of your business.
Connect with customers
As you gain new customers, take time to connect with them whenever possible. Find out what your business can offer them, or their friends and family. When you know the people you serve and their needs, you will find that it is easier to pinpoint your market niche. It sounds counterintuitive, but especially in an online environment, targeting a smaller number of people for marketing can actually mean a better return on your investment in the long run.
Leverage the right tools
In the age of the internet, you have a variety of tools available to you for marketing, but how do you know which are the best to use?
Have a good website
The most important thing for an effective online presence is a well-designed website. Websites with poor design, slow loading time, or outdated information will turn potential customers away. Make sure your website is up to date, easy to navigate, and that it reflects your business brand well. Remember that customers use your website to get to know you and what your business is all about. There are tools out there to help you create a usable website for your business, but it can be daunting to do it yourself. We can help!
Start with Facebook.
The easiest way to connect with customers and clients is to have an active Facebook page. That means regular posts with good content and active responses to comments or questions that come in. For potential customers, a business that doesn’t make regular posts looks like a business that is shut down. Aim to make at least one post a week, and plan some time to respond to customers that comment on your posts at least once a day. If that all sounds like a lot, we’re here to help!
Branch out to Instagram.
Instagram is the second most popular social media platform, so it is a good choice for marketing as well. While it is possible to cross-post to Instagram from Facebook, it is not always advisable since the platforms display posts differently. Instagram is almost all visual content, while Facebook posts can use links, text, and pictures for posts. Again, an active presence is important - posting two or three times a week will get you more views and engagement over time than the occasional update, and replying to comments is a must for this platform.
Running a business is hard, and it can be tough to market yourself in the midst of the day-to-day grind, but using the right tools, connecting to customers, and sharing your story will help.
If your small business needs help with marketing online, contact us! Our mission is to help small businesses and startups with their online marketing needs so that they can concentrate on doing what they love most.
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