1. Know your “why.” It is not enough to be (a bit) faster or less expensive than your competitors. Your potential clients want to know why your business is operating. People don’t buy what you do, they choose you on why you do it.
2. Know who your best customer is. Knowing you want to attract Adults 25-54 isn’t enough. Knowing that you want to attract females age 25-62 in management with an annual income of $60K+ that likes outdoor activities, lives in an urban area, and tends to use Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin is better.
Be Specific. The more specific you are the better results you can get.
3. Be consistent in your messaging and branding. People need to recognize you, no matter where they see you. Consistent high quality images that are used on social media channels, websites, email, and marketing materials. Avoid stock images that don’t reflect your business. Finally, be sure all messaging has been spell-checked!
4. Use social media, but you don’t need to be on every platform. Just because there are lots of social media platforms, that doesn’t mean you have to do them all. Use the channels that your customer tends to use, and whittle that down by the one that brings you the most value.
5. Make sure you have a website, and update it often. In the information age, if your business doesn’t have a website you’re not even on radar. People will be searching for your service and products online, so make sure you’re there. People look at a business website and decide whether to engage with them based on their site. Typically after a Google search this is the first impression a potential customer gets about your business.
6. Don’t forget call-to-actions! At every single point that your customer makes contact in your marketing and sales efforts, there should be a call-to-action that leads back to your contact us page, a landing page, an opt-in form, and so on.
7. Blog. Give people a reason to keep coming back to your website. Blog and give them tips, case studies, your latest products– make sure you keep giving them a reason to visit you on the web.
8. Email marketing. Collect customer email addresses (with their permission), and email them about upcoming sales or events. You can even filter messages out to target specific customers who may buy one product but not another!
9. Build a referral network. Word of mouth is the most powerful type of advertising, so build relationships with professionals and other businesses you would happily refer your customers to and who can send referrals your way, as well.