Marketing Ideas for Small Business: Part 1

Let’s make things as easy as possible. In the next few weeks, I am going to post a variety of Marketing Ideas for your business that will increase sales, generate leads help you master social media and delight your customers. That’s right…ideas so that you can choose which ones will work for you and make the most sense for your business.

Let’s start with MARKETING BASICS:

1. Validate your business idea by defining it’s product/marketing fit.

You need to start by getting REALLY clear on the solution your business delivers so you have an extensive understanding of your product and the audience it’s for. Without a product/market fit, everything else you do won’t work.

2. Know exactly who your customers are by developing customer personas.

Buyer personas are fictional, generalized representations of your ideal customers. Personas help document internalize the ideal customer you’re trying to attract.

Having a deep understanding of your buyer persona(s) is essential for content creation, product development, sales and really anything that relates to customer acquisition and retention.

3. Borrow ideas from those who are doing it right.

One of the most obvious places to learn how to market your brand is to look to look your most successful competitors.

Reverse engineering their strategies can be highly effective when done correctly. Tools like BuiltWith give marketers insights into which tools make up their competitors websites.

4. Learn how to grow your business with help from your suppliers and vendors.

Having a solid relationship with your vendors and suppliers has many benefits. Specifically, they have deeper insights than most about the workings of your industry.

Having worked with many other sellers, they can help you identify what’s working so you both make more sales.

5. Win lifelong customers when you under promise and over deliver.

Even though some might disagree, I believe one of the basic philosophies in business (and life) is that you get out, what you put in. That’s why I always like to under promise and over deliver because I know the end results will be more positive for both parties.

That what clear expectations are set on the outcome so there is no disappointment, but when you go above and beyond and exceed expectations, you’ll earn their business for life.

6. Become a go-to expert in your field.

If you’re not an expert in your field, savvy shoppers will recognize that and choose a competitor. Expertise comes from learning, repetition and experience.

7. Never miss an important marketing milestone or even with a marketing calendar.

Similar to holidays, your client’s business likely has a number of other important events and milestones that you need to have documented somewhere obvious so everyone on your team has time to prepare.

For example, a client of mine hosts BBQ cooking classes and competitions. In order for them to fill those events, they start marketing 30 days in advanced. You make sure you start marketing 45 days in advance!

8. Get where you want to be faster with a professional marketer and/or consultant.

Smart businesses know when to admit they need some extra help. Hiring a professional marketing consultant to help guide your strategy and implement the tactics can skyrocket your business growth by leaning on their expertise.

I might be a little biased but you should check us out for all your marketing and consulting needs.