Today, you don’t have to be an experienced marketer to understand that it is reputation that drives success. However, did you know there are 28.8 million small businesses just in the United States? Given this astounding digit, it’s obvious that building a recognizable brand is an essential part of any small business marketing strategy. This is not an easy task.

On the other hand, if you think that your growing company can’t stand a chance in such a hectic ecosystem, you are wrong. For decades, numerous marketing techniques have been created and modified to provide businesses with limitless opportunities to address the right audience, establish new customer relationships and increase revenue.

Here are five things to consider when generating ideas for your new small business marketing strategy.

5 Steps You Must Take When Creating A New Small Business Marketing Strategy

1.     Address Your Customers Adequately

When starting a marketing campaign, you need to know who your target audience is. For example, one of the most concerning issues marketers face when targeting an audience is the generational gap. Put simply, different generations have distinct preferences. In order to persuade them to buy your products, you need to provide information relevant to them, through the communication channels they appreciate the most.

When creating a marketing campaign, take into account how each generation communicates. Click To Tweet

Elements of a small business marketing strategy targeting tech savvy Millennials requires a robust social media presence, video content, as well as fast-working, mobile-optimized websites. On the other hand, research proves that face-to-face marketing and telemarketing are highly effective when it comes to addressing Baby Boomers and Generation X.

2.     Build Your Brand Identity

According to a 2017 survey on branding, it takes consumers only 10 seconds to form a first impression of a brand’s logo. Once you have determined who your target demographic is, it’s time for you to come up with the details. Elements of a brand identity for a small business, or any business, will include the name, logo, slogan and colors, which will give your company a unique tone. Always keep in mind that every decision you make will influence the way customers perceive your brand.

For instance, when choosing the company name, you need to go with the one that is relevant, clear, and easy to remember. The same goes for every element of this creative process.

Working on the idea of the future, you need to make sure that you have someone on your side that is looking out for your brand. You need to build up a trustworthy and reliable image, which is what an online reputation management agency is for. The last thing that you need is people dragging your new business name through the mud, as this could very well be game over for you.

A company that provides reputation management will ensure that this doesn’t happen, and that your business is allowed to flourish in peace. This might not seem necessary in the beginning, but it is. If you get ahead of this, and keep on top of it, there isn’t going to be any need for drastic measures down the line.

Each element of your brand identity influences how customers perceive your brand. Click To Tweet

3.     Optimize Your Website For Better Customer Conversion

Studies show that, in today’s world of hyperconnectivity, 81% of shoppers search online before making a purchase. Therefore, your online presence is both your first and last line of defense. Logically, investing in a killer website is a fundamental aspect of your digital marketing campaign. When optimizing your website pages, keep in mind that fast, user-friendly and mobile-optimized websites with simple domain names play a crucial role when it comes to customer conversion.

Is your website mobile friendly? Check your pages and navigation on phones and tablets often. Click To Tweet

4.     Create Content That Engages

Since its rapid rise several years ago, content marketing has become the backbone of every successful digital marketing campaign. In this case, content includes more than the information included on your website.

In this digital era, content includes your company blog, social media posts, and comments on websites. In addition to the good old written word, it is also based on graphics, videos and quizzes that get your readers to actively participate in the content. This content is in addition to the offline marketing materials companies once considered standard, such as brochures, business cards and print advertisements.

When it comes using content as a marketing tool, you first need to understand that inbound marketing is not competition. It is about the punctuality, quality and relevance of every single post.

#Contentmarketing includes your blog, graphics, videos and social media posts too! Click To Tweet

5.     Incorporate Social Networks Into Your Marketing Strategy

The majority of your customers are (at the very least) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you aren’t, what are you waiting for? With 2.206 billion active users, social networks have become an integral aspect of every successful small business marketing strategy. In fact, internet users around the world spend 135 minutes of their daily internet time on social media alone. Using these networks, marketers precisely determine who their consumers are, build direct relationships with them, and, most importantly, create a substantial online community.

Conclusion

The small business environment is constantly growing. Effective marketing strategies change parallel with it, trying to meet its needs. Hopefully, incorporating these 5 steps into your small business marketing strategy will give you a little push in the right direction, and help your company keep up with the latest industry and technological trends.

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

This is a guest post from Alex Williams, a journalism graduate, and a rookie blogger trying to find her luck. She views blogs as the perfect opportunity for presenting yourself to wider audience, getting the chance to showcase her expertise and receiving recognition. Alex is a regular contributor at Bizzmark Blog. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

References

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sageworks/2016/01/17/the-state-of-u-s-small-businesses-entering-2016/#129ee5c42f0b

http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2016/09/28/generational-marketing-tactics

http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2019/01/30-key-tips-for-marketing-to-different-generations.html/#.XDwTtlxKjIU

https://www.weidert.com/whole_brain_marketing_blog/bid/108524/top-10-most-e…

https://gurulocity.com/effective-marketing-strategies-small-business/

https://www.top10-websitehosting.co.uk/internet-facts-and-statistics-2018/

http://www.adweek.com/digital/81-shoppers-conduct-online-research-making-purchase-infographic/

https://blog.crowdspring.com/2017/01/successful-branding-for-entrepreneurs-statistics/

https://www.dailywireless.org/internet/usage-statistics/