Are you running a small business? If you are, my guess is your marketing budget is pretty small. Most of your cash will go into producing your products, or faciliating the services you sell. With that in mind, I thought a blog post about some easy marketing activities would be a good idea. None of these activities cost the earth, and they’re relatively easy to implement.
Distribute printed flyers in your local area
Whether it’s through a letterbox drop or giving handfuls of flyers to your local cafe, this is a simple one. You can use a free design tool like Canva. Or you can get a graphic designer to whip you up a one page document that you can get printed and hand out yourself. It’s a good idea to promote a special offer e.g. “Get a free X when you book this month”. This can be an added incentive to prompt people to get in touch with you. Make sure your contact details and social media profiles are listed too, so people can follow up easily.
Write for local publications
Whether you market yourself as a children’s sleep specialist or the area’s best real estate agent, writing content that helps showcase your skills and sets you up as a trusted expert is a good idea. And if someone needs your services, chances are they’ll remember you more than your competitors because your profile is out there. Some local Central Coast-based publications include COAST Magazine, On The Coast – Families and On The Coast – Over 55s.
Update your social media channels
This is a must. There’s no use having a Facebook page for your business if you never update it. Simply posting regularly (a couple of times a week) is enough. Posting content that is relevant and engaging, linking back to your website or online store and responding to enquiries in a timely manner will ensure your business is on track.
Go to local networking events
Most cities and many regional areas have local Chambers of Commerce or Business Networking Groups, and it’s a good idea to tap into those organisations. I’m not going to lie, some of these events can feel awkward and downright painful sometimes, but if you meet one person you connect with on a personal or professional level, you could find new clients coming your way or a professional partnership blossoming.
Blog regularly
Writing regular blog posts for your own website is a must for many reasons (read about how to get your blog posts seen by people here). It’s also a good idea to reach out to other websites that complement your product and service, and offer to guest blog for them. Creating valuable content that helps your clients will always be useful, and what better way to showcase that content than with a blog.
Get in touch here if you’d like to discuss small but meaningful ways that you can market your small business.