Small businesses and independent retailers no doubt have an uphill struggle when competing against major brands. But there are plenty of ways to better market yourself, no matter how small your business might be.
PR
Start off with an effective PR strategy. This involves promoting your business and spreading the word about it to the public using broadcast and print. It is a cost-effective form of marketing that has great longevity, and as a small business it is certainly worth exploring PR to reach a wide audience and give your business the credibility it needs to succeed.
Social Media
The power of social media cannot be ignored. Using social media, small businesses and independent retailers can market themselves directly and connect with consumers on a deeper level using the many available platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Instagram is regarded as one of the simplest and most effective ways to bring your brand to life through images. See here and here for more articles related to Instagram.
Direct mail
This is a powerful tool for independent retailers. As a brand it’s crucial to build and maintain a customer database that you can reach out to through direct mail using a distinctive, branded voice and exceptional content. This will help you to drive traffic back to your website and increase sales.
Business Blogging
Business blogging is a proven strategy for driving traffic to your website and boosting sales. Business blogs have the power to build authority, attract Google’s attention and give your company a unique, branded voice, so if you haven’t already done so, now is definitely the time to consider setting up your business blog.
Event Management
Event management is another way to truly set your brand apart from the crowd and forge a truly personal relationship with your customers. Whether you want to reveal a new product or host an event exclusive to your best customers, there are plenty of ways to host a memorable and successful event.
Before deciding on your approach, consider your desired end result. Are you hoping to boost coverage of your business in the media? Or increase sales of a particular product? Establishing your desired end result will help you to craft a solid plan of action.
Network
Try to network as much as possible at industry-relevant events where your target audience are guaranteed to be present. Spread the word about your business to boost your connections with the right people and build your client following.
Your Landing Page
You also need a fresh, up-to-date and fully optimised landing page. Some of the world’s biggest brands take this approach, truly treating their landing page as a virtual shop window (like Chanel, Gucci and Lamborgini). Also, your site needs to be brimming with fresh, engaging content and you can easily repurpose that for newsletters, audios, social media and so on.
Be Responsive
Finally, be as responsive as possible by keeping afloat of the latest industry trends and using analytics to establish which strategies are working and which aren’t. Comment on the latest issues using your social media platforms to maintain your industry authority and truly engage with your consumers.
About 8 Ways Media
8 Ways Media is a leading online media agency offering professional, engaging branding and web design in addition to content marketing, digital marketing and more. To learn more, visit our services page or contact our team today.
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