9 Clever Marketing Ideas To Boost Your Small Business
Sometimes, running a small business means working with a smaller budget, especially for advertising. But even a limited budget offers plenty of opportunities to make yourself known through fun and interesting ways. Find the right strategy, and you’ll make your business pop. Here are nine clever marketing ideas to boost your small business.
Leverage Social Media
If you’re not on social media, why not? Local customers will find you more easily because search engine results often point to local businesses that are active on social media. Engage your audience on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Post behind-the-scenes content, run polls, create product videos, and share customer stories. You don’t have to go viral worldwide to grab attention. Simply make it easier for people to find you through hashtags and stay consistent.
Email Marketing
Email remains your best marketing value. Ask your customers for their email addresses so you can send them newsletters, promotions, announcements, invitations, and helpful tips.
Host a Workshop or Event
Know what you’re talking about when it comes to your business? Show it off during regular in-store demonstrations and at local fairs, markets, and other public events. Showcase your expertise by hosting a free workshop—whether it’s teaching a skill or offering industry insights. Also, consider connecting your class or workshop to a promotion to increase sales.
Partner With Local Businesses
Are there other businesses in town that aren’t direct competitors but share similar aims? Team up with them to cross-promote products and services or host joint events. Provide each other with business cards and fliers, and suggest that your respective customers check each other out for deals and more.
Fly Flags
Flags are a low-cost, high-visibility, and fun way to promote whatever you like to people passing or driving by. Banners and regular rectangular flags are fine, but consider unusually shaped ones to get more attention. Custom feather flags offer creative ways to promote things or point people your way.
Encourage Customer Feedback
Asking your customers how you did is good, but encourage them to share those feelings online. Your website, review sites, and social media are prime places to run testimonials and success stories. The more people who post reviews, the more attention you’ll get from search engines.
Offer Referral Incentives
Encourage current customers to refer your business to their friends by offering discounts or freebies. A small investment can lead to even more referrals over time.
Launch Limited-Time Offers
Everyone has a fear of missing out! Create a sense of urgency with time-sensitive sales or exclusive product drops to attract customers.
Use Geotargeted Ads
Ever noticed those ads on the side of Google’s search results page? Purchase online ads that you can set to target specific cities or neighborhoods (like yours, of course). Local customers will find you and your ads much more easily.
Those are just nine clever marketing ideas to boost your small business, and there are even more out there. Marketing your small business doesn’t have to be expensive, just strategic. Experiment and see what produces the biggest boost for your business and bang for your buck!