As a business owner, it’s likely not at the top of your list of things to do, but it is an important one. Whether your business has just opened or you’ve been in business for many years, one thing still holds true and that is you need new and repeat customers to continue growing your business.
Attracting new customers and keeping your existing customers loyal are closely intertwined. Obviously the idea of “Build it and they will come” only really worked in Field of Dreams. In real life, you need to market your business to attract new customers and then you need to make sure you deliver 5 star service. Literally, 5 star service since online reviews are a real thing.
Marketing at its core is spreading the word about your products and services. Explain their advantages to potential customers to ultimately increase sales. Depending on your target market, industry, products, and whether you want to market locally, online, or both, you can accomplish this in a variety of ways.
The most effective marketing strategy will vary depending on your budget, your industry, the best ways to reach that industry’s target market, and whether you wish to handle everything yourself. With the right tools and software, you can start marketing on your own if you have the time and dedication. I say dedication because marketing can be a full time job with keeping up with trends and technology.
Keep in mind that a big part of marketing is choosing the best channel for reaching your potential customers. These channels can change from product to product, so it’s important to know your customers. Knowing your customer’s buying or shopping habits greatly increases your chances of being successful.
Here are a few marketing channels to consider and a little bit about them.
Website – Yes, your website is a marketing tool. Without a good website you sabotage your business’s success without even knowing it. 75% of consumers admit they judge a business’s credibility based on its website and most of them won’t let you that they came and left in a hurry.
Google Ads – Think of Google Ads as the modern day Yellow Pages. (remember them) When you “let your fingers do the walking” you are already on your buying journey and looking for a source to buy.
Social Media – Social Media marketing is much much more than posting your new line of widgets and whatchamacallits. Yes, every marketer will tell you that you need to be on one or more social media platforms and creating posts with consistency. But the truth is, most of those posts will not reach many people. In 2021 the organic (non-paid) reach of a Facebook post was 5.2%. So if you have 1,000 followers you might reach 52 people. It doesn’t seem worth the time invested. BUT… you should consider a paid advertising strategy using social media to ensure you are reaching a larger audience.
Traditional Advertising – Magazine, Billboard, Newspaper, Radio, and the like fall under traditional advertising. Basically, any advertising that is not online is considered traditional. Traditional advertising still plays a vital role in marketing your business. When used together, traditional and digital marketing can reach more audiences and build consumer trust especially when marketing on a local level.
Email marketing – is a great way to communicate with your existing customers. Since they already do business with you, they know who you are and more than likely subscribe to your emailing list. This is also why the open rate of those emails are typically a lot higher than using lists you can purchase. You can also use email marketing to attract new customers however you need to put in place ways to acquire email addresses like offering useful resources and information in exchange. Using your website is another effective way to acquire email addresses.
Although this is not a comprehensive list of marketing platforms it’s a good starting point. If you would like to learn more about the tools available to help you market your business visit www.LeadUp.Solutions and check out the DIY Solutions page for more information. You can also schedule a FREE 30-minute Discovery call and we’ll show you the lead generation tools that are available to help marketing your business easier. Schedule by visiting diysolutions.leadup.solutions/book-consultation.
