In this era where business competitions continue to grow stiffer, small businesses will grab every chance they can get to pave their way into the spotlight. You will notice that these small businesses put as much effort— if not more— as those household brands. From developing creative web designs to posting witty, funny content on Facebook, small entrepreneurs never run out of online strategies.
But while social media presence is important, a business owner must never confine their marketing mindset inside one bubble. After all, marketing is a huge field— and social media marketing is just a part of it.
If you are a small business owner, you need to go the extra mile to sell your business. While no marketing strategy is guaranteed, here are some unique ways to get your name out there for new customers to see.
1. Start within your community
Having big dreams (like dominating the world market) is a good sign that you have big ambitions for your business. However, try to focus more on your present, small-step goals. To do this, start by marketing your brand name within your community. Here are simple ways to get involved:
- Look for local fundraisers who need sponsors to support their cause.
- Join a business alliance.
- Have your business story published in your local paper.
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2. Give away freebies
Everyone loves free stuff. Plus, a few freebies won’t hurt your wallet. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your product; you can consider giving away useful stuff such as notebooks, pens, calendars, stress balls, etc. Just be sure to have your logo attached to them. Surely, your customers will keep your brand foremost in their minds!
Don’t shy away from expending money on freebies. Growth in sales, customers, and leads have been proven to be a result of giveaway promos. Whatever you give away, just know that it will bounce back bigger to you.
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3. Bring in another brand to the game
Cross-promotion is a tactic that connects you with potential customers on another channel. This is usually done through a partnership with other businesses.
If you know a brand that complements your product and is not a direct competitor, see if they are interested in working together. If they like your idea, don’t waste the opportunity by settling with a mediocre plan. Remember that it is not enough just to have your name mentioned by another company.
Your promotion needs to be meaningful and relevant. Try co-hosting a webinar or podcast series. For example, a gym equipment store could partner up with a gym guru to discuss the effects of core exercises on our body.
4. Attend conferences
Attending conferences is a good way to build and expand your network and listening to others’ entrepreneurship journey can be energizing and inspiring. Other than that, it can also be a place where you can share your story. Use it as a platform to promote. But make sure to have a well-written speech that will put your product under the spotlight and will trigger your audience’s curiosity.
5. Partner up with your loyal customers
One of the best ways to attract customers is through word-of-mouth. Next time, try to ask your most loyal customers for help and have them work for you by recommending your business to other people. In return, let them know that you will reciprocate their hard work and loyalty by giving them special discounts or free products.
6. Develop unique products
Here’s the thing, customers and publishing companies love innovative stories. People are innately adventurous and curious; we dig into products we’ve never heard of because we want to try something beyond the norms. Keep working until you have one thing that no one else has done. Then, go out and share it with the world by posting online ads or publishing an article on your blog site.
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7. Improve customer service
While great customer service is a bare minimum for every business, it can also be seen as a great marketing strategy.
As the world keeps expanding and businesses keep sprawling, it makes it harder for a small business to find new customers. Be sure to keep your customers loyal to you by treating them with kindness and a smile. After all, it won’t cost you much to be nice and approachable. If anything, being kind may lead you to have a customer for life. The better the service, the higher the chances of them coming back to your store.
Read: 5 Mistakes Every Entrepreneur Must Avoid When Scaling a Business