Innovative Marketing Ideas For Small Business
Having a solid marketing strategy is an essential part of any successful business. If you are like many who start on the road to entrepreneurship, you don’t have an inexhaustible supply of money coming in to pour into your marketing efforts.
Where do I begin?
Keeping a business afloat boils down to simple math---you must make more than you spend. To make money, you need sales. For people to make sales, you must attract---and then keep---loyal customers. Loyal customers are the lifeblood of your business and being able to attract enough to “balance the books” and “stay in the black” will be a significant part of business building. How can you get creative with marketing efforts without breaking the bank?
Good news!
You don’t necessarily have to come up with creative and innovative ideas, as many have gone before you and paved the way to business success. Read on to be inspired, and get ready to see the profits roll in as you employ these exceptional marketing strategies:
Focus on your content. You’ve probably heard the phrase “content is king” in reference to what you are putting on your website. Focusing on creating content that is of value to potential customers, and taking the opportunity to update it regularly, will keep you near the top of major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. If you are clearly visible to those searching for you, more traffic will land on your website. Evaluate your descriptions and content for SEO compatibility and consider the creation of a killer blog to boost your efforts exponentially.
Consider video marketing (with live streaming). Over fifty percent of businesses claim that video marketing is the single most effective form of marketing--with the best return on investment. In fact, video marketing is so popular right now that it claims a 49 percent higher conversion rate than other types of marketing. Whether you use it for brand awareness, conversion techniques, or how-to tutorials, you are providing value that is engaging and memorable for potential customers.
Re-purpose content. A wise businessman once said, “over eighty percent of the content on the web today is recycled. It was just repurposed at some point.” As you create engaging content, think of some of the other ways, it can be retooled and repurposed to reach a broader audience. Have a great “how-to” blog post that you can turn into a video? You’ve just widened your circle of influence. How about a slideshow presentation of the same content that you can send to email subscribers? The possibilities for creativity are endless as you think of new ways to reach your audience with information.
Network. Someone with good business sense intuitively knows the value of networking. Sharing business cards with others, connecting with other business owners in your area through training and professional associations, and simple small talk on the street are valuable ways to let others know about you and your brand. A closed mouth cannot be fed; you got into your current business with passion, and passion is infectious. Share your passion with others and look forward to creating a number of surprising relationships as you find people who are like-minded and interested in your business.
Think locally, expand globally. A smaller business may not have the same outreach as a large corporation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a solid, significant standing right where you are. Insert yourself into your local community--attend sporting events, sponsor little league teams, and hold open houses to meet patrons right down the street. Consider adding some of the following features to your business to solidify your social standing, such as:
Location-based keywords into your content
Adding a Google “my business” page to help people find you
Registering with local directories
Use of schema.org
As your outreach and influence grow, don’t forget those that helped you get started.
Well on your way to success and prosperity!
Need more ideas on how to expand your social circle and widen your sphere of influence? At MaxGroup Business Solutions, we have the tools, the professionals, and the passion for helping drive your business straight to the top. We will design a custom marketing plan that works for you, your dreams, and your budget. Let us help you build your dream business; visit www.maxgroupbusiness.com for more information.