Starting a small business can be daunting. You need to do many things: getting licenses and permits, setting up the place, hiring men to work for you, and learning how to finance your business. Once you have everything up and ready, another problem comes. How will you let your target customers know that your business exists to serve their needs?
Promoting your business seems overwhelming at first, but there are many ways to promote your business effectively. From making use of your social media accounts to providing your employees with personalized workwear, here are some ways to market your brand:
1. Take advantage of social media.
Spreading awareness through social media platforms is probably one of the cheapest ways to spread the word about your new business venture. You can easily reach your 1,000 plus friends on Facebook and followers on Instagram with a single post about your business.
Amp things up and use Facebook Live. Stream what is happening in your business establishment. If you have a restaurant, shoot a Facebook Live video of your cook preparing your specialty. If you own a shop or a boutique, you can go on Live and show your new arrivals and items on sale. You can ask your closest pals to share them on their timeline, too, say for a free espresso shot the next time they visit your cafe.
You can also set up your own FB Business Page to take advantage of free and paid promotional tools. Other social media platforms that you can use are YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. If you offer professional services, you should set up a LinkedIn account to establish a network with professionals who might need your services.
2. Use buddy marketing.
Do you know someone, a friend or a relative, who also owns a business that is not in the same line as yours? Why not join forces for a cross-promotion? You can give your customers a leaflet of your partner, and in turn, your partner will also handout your flyers to their customers.
You can also do cross-promotion on each of your social media pages. This will give you a chance to reach out to a newer set of audiences who might also be interested in your services. Do you sell pet foods and items? Why not partner with a veterinary clinic? They can refer their clients to your shop, and you can also refer your customers to their clinic. It is a win-win situation for both of you.
3. Give customized freebies.
Giving out promotional items to your customers is a time-proven effective means to raise your brand awareness and encourage brand loyalty as well. If you own a coffee shop, a mug or tumbler with your logo is a great way to spread the word about your business. When your customers drink their coffee at work using your freebie, they are effectively spreading the word to their peers.
Other promotional items that you can give are reusable shopping bags, caps, and many others. The more useful your customized promotional items are, the more potential customers you will reach. The more your customers see your brand in your promotional items, the more you improve your brand recall.
4. Provide your employees with personalized workwear.
Providing your employees with high-quality workwear shows your employees that you care for them. It boosts your employees’ morale and loyalty. When your employees wear their printed workwear, they become your walking brand ambassadors. It’s a cost-effective means to let people know about your brand and meet the needs of your hard-working employees. From personalized shirts and trousers to backpacks and gear, you can make your employees feel valued and appreciated.
5. Promote your business through informative blogs.
Guest posting is one great way to promote your business to a wide range of audiences. Choose your blog site carefully. It has to be a site that attracts your target customers; otherwise, your effort will be futile. It must be a reputable site.Once you set up your website, writing informative blogs to help and engage your customers is a great way to spread the word about your business.
You do not have to spend much on promoting your new business. You can start by spreading the news to your existing network. When people are satisfied with your products and services, word will reach your target customers.
