All businesses need to market their products, services, and brand in order to be successful. By making people aware of your business, engaging them, and encouraging them to make a purchase, you can generate revenue and begin to grow your business.
However, effectively building your business relies on you using the right mix of marketing methods. With so many options out there, it can be tricky for entrepreneurs and small business owners to decide exactly what forms of marketing to use. To make things easier, take a look at these top marketing options for SMEs:
1. Banners, signs, and posters
If you’re opening a new business or establishing a new location, you’ll want to let everyone know you’ve arrived. Announcing your launch with banners, signs, and posters is an easy way to put your company on the map – literally. When there are clear visual markers, people will find it easy to access your premises and will, therefore, be more likely to pay you a visit.
Furthermore, these methods of marketing help to boost brand awareness. Even if people aren’t actively looking for your premises, a large roller banner or Corflute signs highlights your location and gives them key information about your business.
2. Get active on social media
Social media marketing is used by businesses of all sizes but it’s particularly useful for entrepreneurs and SMEs. With the option to sign up for free accounts, launching a social media marketing campaign is a low-cost method of engaging with your target audience.
In addition to this, social media activity is easy to monitor and measure. With built-in analytics tools, you’ll find it easy to gauge your performance and enhance your strategy. Whether you’re managing your campaign alone, hiring a social media executive, or outsourcing your campaign to a third-party marketing company, social media should be a top priority for all small businesses.
3. Focus on SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical tool in today’s climate. No matter what type of business you’re running, you need to be visible online in order to succeed. Even local bricks-and-mortar businesses need an active online profile in order to attract new customers and retain existing patrons.
By targeting relevant keywords, you can improve your rankings on major search engines, like Google. When people search for nearby services or products related to your business, you want your web pages to be the first thing they see. While it can take time to get to the first page of Google for popular keywords, a savvy SEO campaign will ensure you achieve swift results and better rankings.
4. Connect with influencers
Influencer marketing might be a relatively new concept, but the basic premise has been around for quite some time. Today’s influencers tend to have a large online following of fans or supporters. Their endorsements hold a significant amount of sway within their niche, so you can increase your reach and gain tacit approval by partnering with an influencer.
Some influencers charge companies relatively high fees to endorse them, so this might not be a viable option for new businesses or SMEs. However, others are willing to accept a percentage of the sales they generate or to receive free products and services in exchange for placements. By brokering a deal that works for both parties, you can achieve an impressive ROI with influencer marketing.
5. Enhance your credibility
Once your business becomes an authority within your industry, you’ll find that customers naturally gravitate towards you. You can boost your reputation and credibility by establishing your specialties and showcasing your company’s talents.
This can often be achieved in conjunction with a content marketing campaign, so look for ways to highlight your company’s prowess while sharing content. Blog posts, articles, eBooks, videos, images, and podcasts are all great ways to gain PR, improve brand awareness, and enhance your credibility.
Successfully Marketing Your SME
No matter what marketing methods you choose to use, you’ll want to know how successful your campaigns have been. That’s why monitoring your activity and gathering accurate data is vital. By measuring various metrics and accumulating qualitative data, you can analyze company performance before, during, and after a marketing campaign.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll have the information you need to hone future campaigns and enhance your performance. By repeating the marketing activities that gave you the biggest ROI and dropping ones that garnered less impressive results, you’ll soon find the cheapest and most cost-effective ways to market your business.
