5 Expert Tips on How to Market a Small Business

Marketing is a broad term that covers a whole lot of possibilities. From social media to print advertising, the ways you can market your business are endless. However, marketing can get trickier for small businesses. Learn exactly how to market a small business with these tips.

Establish Your Target Market

Before you can draft up a marketing plan, you’ll need to know who you’re marketing for. Rather than reach for too broad an audience, tailor your outreach to individuals likely to be interested in your product or service. Factors such as geography, age, and gender should be at the top of your list of things to consider.

Connect with Your Community

Once you have your ideal customer in mind, it’s time to seek them out in the real world. Connecting with your community is essential in the small business world. Whether it’s through flyers, advertising deals, or vending at your local sidewalk sale, your community should know you’re open for business. For building personal relationships, community events are the way to go. For example, you can auction off a gift basket of your business’ goods for a local charity event to establish a meaningful relationship with your customers.

Clean Up Your Website

Technology is a huge asset in today’s business world, but neglecting your online presence can spell disaster. When people search for your business, a professional-looking website should greet them. You don’t have to be a tech genius to make this happen—platforms like Wix and Squarespace make formatting easy.

Use Social Media

When it comes to how to market a small business, social media is an organic and useful tool for connecting with your customers. Facebook is great for creating events to drum up interest in your business. For more visual trades, such as boutiques or bakeries, you can share pictures of your products on Instagram. Make sure to respond regularly to comments with sincere words of thanks or by opening a dialogue about your services. Whichever mediums you choose, make sure you post quality content.

Utilize Google My Business

This step is key for those who own small local businesses. Google My Business is a free tool that helps you manage your online presence across Google. This includes both Google Search and Google Maps, which are crucial for small businesses. When you use Google My Business, your company’s information, location, and hours are much more likely to pop up in searches.