Going Beyond the Surface
Marketing your small or growing business can be daunting. There are many pieces to the puzzle; where do you start?! Hint: Social media marketing is not the answer.
Keep reading to find the answer to all your burning marketing questions:
- How do I market myself as a small business?
- How do I create a marketing plan for my small business?
- What is the cheapest way to advertise my business?
Where to Start with Your Marketing
Business owners who begin marketing their businesses on their own often make two main mistakes:
- Jumping too far ahead.
- Forgetting to address your ideal customer.
DO NOT just pick somewhere and start marketing. You’re likely to waste time, energy and money on something that barely moves the needle.
DO be strategic in where you invest your marketing efforts, and seek professional help if you don’t know your business’ best next step.
DO NOT sell, sell, sell. Yes, it’s important to focus on what you do and how you do it, but people buy from people, not products.
DO talk directly to your customers. Tell them why you decided to start this business, why your product or service matters, and how it can help them.
As for where to start, most businesses need a solid brand that allows them to market themselves well. But, not all businesses start at the same spot. Some businesses need a little more help than others, and that’s OKAY! Your business is your baby, and it deserves all the love and attention it needs to flourish. If you want the help of a marketing agency, we’d love to help you elevate your marketing.
How to Create a Marketing Plan for Your Small Business
Every business needs a plan.
Plan for their money.
Plan for their team.
Plan for when you’re out of town.
And, a plan for your marketing.
Do you feel like you’ve taken a shot in the dark when it comes to marketing your business? Are you throwing pasta at the wall, hoping it sticks?
What if we told you there was another way?
Marketing Strategy
A plan outlining how you will achieve your marketing goals. It involves decisions on branding, target audiences and promotion to drive success and customer satisfaction.
With a marketing strategy, you’ll be able to tackle your marketing with confidence. You’ll find your marketing actually makes a difference. You’ll not only attract customers for your business, but you’ll curate the perfect audience.
To create the BEST marketing strategy, it’s best to lean on a professional marketing agency. We know a good one *hint hint*. If you want to do it yourself, we even offer an “on your own time” course: Business Marketing Done Right.
The Cheapest Ways to Market Your Business
If you want the cold, hard truth…
… doing it the right way is the cheapest way.
Wasting your time on too many DIY tactics can cost you more than money in the long run. It becomes draining to continue to invest in marketing that simply does not work.
Not good.
Creating and setting aside a marketing budget will be the best thing you can do for your business marketing. It’ll put you steps ahead of your competitors, and set you up for success when you decide to work with a professional.
Here’s a quick outline:
- Establish a marketing budget (typically 10% of your revenue)
- Build a brand you love
- Create a marketing strategy
- Tackle your to do list
- Revisit your strategy often and adjust as needed!
Additional tips:
- Engage on social media often. Don’t just set it and forget it!
- Make sure you have an established brand voice to create consistent marketing.
- Update your website often. Don’t let outdated information linger.
- Share tips, tricks, stories, and recommendations more than you make hard sells.
- Ask for help. You deserve it!
At the end of the day, marketing is a powerful, important tool. However, it can be incredibly overwhelming.
Don’t let the fear of failing or learning prevent you from starting. Don’t fall into complacency. Reach beyond the surface, and dig deep into your marketing. Then, watch your business grow!
If you need help, or recommendations on where to start, our team at Oakes Creative House would love to be that helping hand.
