As a small business owner, you’re juggling a never-ending list of responsibilities; keeping operational costs low, delivering quality products/services, ensuring customer satisfaction… and that’s just the business-related tasks. Factor in personal commitments such as family, friends, school, hobbies, etc., it can often feel like a whirlwind of priorities just to keep your business afloat another day.
From our countless conversations with business owners, we’ve noticed a common trend: marketing, despite its crucial role, often gets sidelined. Maintaining a basic online presence like a Facebook or LinkedIn page, or a simple website, can feel like a full-time job. Your personal marketing efforts, essential as they are, tend to take a backseat amidst daily operations. So let us clear the clutter and provide you with some tips and tricks that can help you on your way. Bonus points – these are things you can do yourself!
Know Your Brand – Remember, you want to be recognized, so your logo, colors, tag lines should be coherent across platforms. Consistency is key!!
Identify Your Audience – Your message needs to resonate with your audience. Where are they located? What are their interests? Once you know this you can tailor your message to your key market.
Create Captivating Content – There is nothing worse than a stock photo and some yawn worthy text. Mix it up with vibrant videos, eye-catching photography, handy tips, and ‘get to know the team’ snippets. Make your brand not just a name, but a personality people want to engage with.
Network Your Heart Out – This is fun and easy, plus it works! How cool would it be to do a joint event, seminar, promotion with a brand/business that you share similar audiences with? These will generate buzz and spread the word amongst different people that you may have not reached previously.
Reviews Are Gold – A five-star review means you know what you are doing! Showcase these reviews proudly, and don’t be afraid to ask for more – feedback is key to growth. These powerful testimonials can tip the scales for someone deciding whether to choose you!
Written by: Elizabeth Bartlett, Co-Founder & CEO