- Kady Stoll
Marketing 101 for Small Businesses: Learn How to Brand Yourself and Attract Customers
Updated: Mar 19, 2022
Are you a small business owner looking into marketing and growing your business? Sometimes it’s hard to find a starting point but do not worry. This marketing 101 for small businesses will lay things out clearly. So, know that you have come to the right place!
Marketing 101 for small businesses allows every entrepreneur to have a basic understanding of marketing. A foundation to build on. Together we will look at the most influential marketing hacks that have the potential to significantly scale your business.
Know that this marketing 101 is for small business owners, who might have a limited marketing budget, similar to that of start-ups. You will learn things you can do on your own. Others are worth considering investing in.
Let’s find out what might be a good fit for your business!
Why is Marketing So Important? - Even with a Marketing Budget for Start-Ups
Oh, where to even begin? There’re so many reasons why you should breathe marketing day in and day out if you’re a business owner.
Did you ever consider that without marketing it’s quite possible your business wouldn’t even exist? You can work hard all you want, if nobody knows anything about you, you’re unlikely to succeed.
Whether it’s by word-of-mouth, referrals, social media, or cold emailing, you want to stay present. If you’re not on your readers’ mind, actively and consistently engaging with them, you won’t be an option when they decide on making a purchase or finding a service.
Why You Should Know Your Marketing 101 for Small Businesses: Some Numbers to Consider
Did you know that 64% of small businesses have their own website up and running?¹ You might think, sure they need a website. But this is a huge step for many small businesses and a huge shift in thought as building your online presence is becoming more and more important.
It also puts more emphasis on the copy on your website. What to include on your website, how to design it, and make it appealing, and user-friendly - all these things become important factors.
And as smartphones are gaining popularity, small businesses need to make sure their sites are now mobile friendly as well. In fact, 94% of small business owners ensured they had a mobile friendly site in 2019.² And that trend is climbing.
But there’s more.
Your customers are shifting gears too. About 74% of consumers heavily rely on a company’s social media presence prior to making a purchase. And an impressive 81% of customers check online before even considering to engage with you.³
Still think you should do your marketing on the fly?
Here are some tips to help you get some marketing 101 understanding if you’re a small business.
Marketing 101:Tips and Tricks for Small Businesses
Revamp Your Website
There are many ways to improve your online presence as a small business. The number one thing you can start with is your website.
Consider your website the first thing your customers see of you. The first impression you can make on them. So, don’t waste your chance and make sure you actually impress and don’t disappoint.
There are a few things you need to look into:
Your web copy
Your web design and layout
Your website’s speed
Your web copy needs to appeal to your audience but most importantly, it needs to be SEO optimized (optimized for search engines). SEO optimization means that your website includes keywords or keyphrases your target audience uses and lands them on your page. This is crucial in order to attract customers!
Just putting out content without SEO optimization will lead to very little or no organic traffic, meaning customers won’t be able to find you.
You also want to make sure you have some visuals and a site that flows cohesively.
And don’t underestimate the importance of your website’s speed. Users have the attention span of a toddler when surfing the web. If you don’t deliver right there and then, you’ve missed your chance. Period.
Break into Social Media
Social media is becoming more and more popular and that doesn’t just apply to personal use. But with so many people actively using social media, you’re given an opportunity to reach your customers more effectively.
There are a number of different platforms you can use but consider that some may be better than others for your type of business.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
Snapchat
Pinterest
YouTube
The advantages you can get by using social media platforms are that you can:
Establish yourself on another platform and reach customers you may be otherwise unable to reach.
Enagage with your readers more consistently.
Post updates, announce new services, and communicate changes easily.
Enagage more casually with customers. Taking away from a stiff business owner presentation and adding a personal touch can make your business more appealing to certain groups.
Opt to create ads that can further expand your reach and target specific types of customers.
Another benefit is that most social media platforms (aside from running ads) are free to use, which allows people with a marketing budget for start-ups and small businesses to not miss out.
Some platforms, such as LinkedIn, allow you to analyze your interactions, and determine what content your users prefer. This gives you a better understanding of what you should put out and how to better reach people.
Consider Email Marketing
Email marketing is definitely on the rise as it allows you to capture leads at the beginning of a sales funnel and guide them through their journey.
Even if you don’t currently have plans to implement email marketing strategies, consider including a sign-up on your website. Ask your customers to join your email list or receive your email newsletter in exchange for dropping their email.
It takes time to build a robust email list, so you can never start early enough to build your list!
Why is Email Marketing So Effective?
With email marketing, you’re able to reach customers more easily. Oftentimes, you know they’re already interested because they left you their email for a reason.
Imagine them being on the hook of your fishing pole, just waiting to be reeled in. You might lose them along the way, but if you play your cards right, you can bring them down your sales funnel successfully.
What Can You Do With Email Marketing Campaigns?
Here are just a few examples of what you can accomplish integrating email marketing into your business development strategy:
You can nurture your relationship with the customer and build trust
You can send monthly newsletters
You can focus your sales more heavily on specific times throughout the year
You can inform customers about discounts and new offers
You can subcategorize subscribers and target customers’ needs better
You can track progress easily through email marketing tools
I’m sure by now you understand why knowing your marketing 101 for small businesses is crucial. Learning the foundation will get you started and help you on this journey of growing your business.
About the Author:
Kady Stoll is a copywriter writing for health professionals and sustainable brands. Learn more at https://www.kadystoll.com/
Resources:
https://www.fundera.com/resources/small-business-marketing-statistics
https://devrix.com/tutorial/small-business-marketing-statistics-trends/
https://www.revlocal.com/resources/library/blog/2021-small-business-marketing-statistics-that-you-should-know