If you run a small business, you are likely always looking for new marketing tips and techniques from market leaders to help get your business to the top. Mastering the art of marketing is challenging. In fact, no one ever truly masters it because the market is always changing. Nonetheless, the following six tips will help you to more effectively promote your business.
1) Harness Referrals
Word of mouth and referrals can be one of your most valuable tools when promoting a small business. People are significantly more likely to buy from brands that are recommended to them by others. You can help to foster this by asking for referrals, requesting reviews and setting up affiliate programs.
Sometimes simple incentives can be very powerful. For example, you could offer customers discounts on their next purchases if they refer a friend. The right setup depends on the unique circumstances of your business.
2) Organize Your Sales Funnel
You may already be familiar with the sales funnel. This is a model for describing purchase decisions. People go from awareness to interest before making a decision and finally purchasing. Although the funnel is a little different for every organization, following this model can help you to better understand and cater to the needs of your customers.
For example, you can develop lead generation strategies for every stage of the funnel. Someone at the awareness stage may be interested in general information about your product category. A customer at the decision stage is likely looking for specific product data.
3) Collaborate With Related Businesses
Working together with businesses in your area or that sell related products and services can be a great way to boost your success. For example, if you sell furniture, you could collaborate with a local interior design firm. These types of collaborations can be mutually beneficial.
One example of this is referring customers to each other. Another possibility is to create promotions that involve both of your businesses. You could give a discount to customers who shop with your partner brand, for example.
4) Create Content
Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow your digital marketing presence. It can significantly enhance your other online marketing efforts. For example, you could use your content for your social channels to help drive users to your website. You can also use your content as part of your lead capture techniques.
People are always searching the internet looking for answers to their questions. If you can provide valuable information, you will develop an audience that can be converted into customers. The key is to focus on your customers’ wants, needs and concerns.
5) Leverage Sales Promotions
Sales promotions (discounts, promotional codes etc.) can be very powerful tools. You can use these to incentivize additional purchases of your products. For example, you may use a discount for a major holiday to encourage people to buy gifts from your business.
You can even target your promotions to small groups or even individuals. Combining ad retargeting with discount codes can be an immensely powerful way to increase your sales. In many cases, a sale with a lower margin is better than no sale at all.
6) Establish Your Authority
Brand authority is the trust that people have in your business as a source of reliable information and good products. You can establish this by setting yourself and your team up as experts on relevant topics for your products and services. For example, you could speak at a conference that relates to what you sell.
Your content marketing can also help significantly with this. The goal is to increase your visibility and perceived expertise. Gradually, more and more people will come to your brand to help with solving their burning needs.
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As you apply these tips and others, you will gradually get a better sense of how to market your business. Every brand needs a unique mix. Find yours today.
