If you’re the owner of a small business, then it’s safe to say that your main goal is to make money by getting people to buy your products or pay for your services. As simple as this sounds, it still takes a lot of work to make this happen because you first have to get people aware that your business exists— and before this, you have to identify your target market. Once you’ve determined who makes up your market, the next thing you must do is figure out the best way to market to them, or to get your business noticed by them. Here are three ways to get your small business noticed by your target market and more people in general.
#1: Attend Local Events
Conferences, job fairs, trade fairs, and pop-up events are all great ways to get your business noticed by consumers and other businesses. This is especially good for small businesses whose target market is their local community. Local businesses should always try to attend local events to help get their business noticed. When your community is familiar with you, they can recommend you to family and friends who come into town for a visit.
For e-commerce or online-only businesses, pop-up shops are great events to look into. It gives you a chance to connect with your consumers and hopefully make new customers. It also places a face and human personality on the face of your brand and its personality. This also creates excitement as your current customers can finally buy from you in person, which is a chance that doesn’t come around too often with e-commerce businesses.
#2: Develop Your Online Presence
Website
Having an online presence is one of the most effective ways to get your business noticed. More than half of the world’s population has access to and uses the internet regularly, and is easy to find online means that you’re more likely to get business. Even business owners who own a local shop or restaurant will benefit from having a strong online presence, starting with a website. Your business website should include:
- Company name and logo
- Address and hours of operation
- Phone number/fax/email
- Social media handles
- Products you sell/services you offer
Social Media
About half of the people who use the internet also use social media, and social media is a great tool for promoting a business— not just for connecting with family and friends. Creating a business profile on top sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can help you reach a larger audience. Just keep in mind that you should understand which platform(s) your target market is more likely to use.
Blog
Blogs are a great addition to have on your website because it allows you to engage more with your current and future customers. Blog posts can contain all types of content, from text-only posts to photos and videos, or a combination. Having a blog on your website also helps with search engine optimization, which is a form of digital marketing that gets your website to rank higher on search engines like Google.
#3: Use Your Current Customers
Your current customers can be your biggest and best salespeople. Many businesses use affiliate programs where their most loyal customers promote their products and then receive a commission on the sales they help with. This marketing technique allows you to have your customers (who already know and love your products) market your products and your brand, and they receive an incentive for doing so.
Affiliate marketing works great online, and promotional marketing can work great in person. This type of marketing uses promotional items that bear your company name and logo. These can be used as giveaway items for your current customers, and wearing/using the promotional items is free advertising. Promotional microfiber towels, keychains, hats, coffee mugs, and clothing items are examples of items that all businesses can benefit from placing their logos on and offering them to your customers to wear/use and “advertise” to those around them.
Your local community, your online presence, and your current customers are all going to be major assets when it comes to spreading the word about your business. Even as your business continues to grow, you’ll still need to utilize these three assets in some way. Make sure to nurture your relationships with your local community and your current customers to retain and attract customers. Also, invest in your online presence.
