Small business marketing is a specialized area that a lot of established businesses have a whole department dedicated to but this doesn’t mean smaller companies aren’t able to achieve and sustain a client base. Smaller businesses can develop and maintain their brands using different strategies which include online marketing, as well as traditional strategies such as billboards and printing ads.
Online marketing, including an online presence for your business as well as profiles on social media, is an important component of any marketing strategy for small companies. A well-designed website can provide vital details about your business, such as your products and services. It also lists your location, operating hours along with pricing and contact information. Small business websites can also be used as an ecommerce platform, where you can sell products and services to consumers directly.
In addition to an online presence, small businesses can also use more traditional methods to market themselves, for example, distributing advertisements in newspapers, coupon books or participating in market stalls and trade shows. A popular way to increase brand recognition is to team up with influencers. These are those who have a large following on platforms like Instagram or YouTube.
A clear and effective marketing strategy is vital for any small business. In fact, our survey results reveal that the majority (over 80%) of small businesses plan to boost their marketing efforts throughout the year. Email and Facebook were the two methods of marketing which yielded the highest ROI on investment. Paid digital ads and content marketing rounded out the top five. Direct mail, SMS marketing and Twitter however had lower returns.
