A company can offer the best product or service around, but if no one knows about it, they will never succeed. In today’s consumer market, it is more important than ever to get the word out about your business. Here are a couple ideas to get you started.
Who is my audience?
The first step to any marketing plan is to identify your target audience. What do they look like? There are many factors that will determine your demographic. What is their age, gender, occupation, education, income, etc. Once you have gathered this information, you are ready to move on to the next step.
What are my differentiators?
You must determine the factors that make your company/product/service stand out from the rest. By successfully communicating the things that set your business apart, you can separate yourself from the competition. Otherwise, your communication will fall on deaf ears and you will blend in with the rest of your competitors.
How do I reach my audience?
Once you have identified your audience and differentiators, you must figure out the best way to get your message in front of that group. Today, there are many avenues to reach prospects.
Online
Many companies will start by creating a website and social media presence. They must then determine which social media outlet will best reach their audience. According to Small Business Trend’s 2016 Social Media Statistics Study, “Almost 90 percent of marketers say their social marketing efforts have increased exposure for their business, and 75 percent say they’ve increased traffic.”
Facebook currently has the largest reach of all, but there are many options depending on your demographic. Many B2B companies will focus on LinkedIn to build professional relationships with those in their industry and to connect with new clients. Companies with a physical product, focused more on visual appeal, can utilize an outlet like Instagram to reach their audience.
These resources typically have paid advertising options where you can target your ads to your audience. There is an array of options, so it is very important to do your research in finding the best option for your business.
Local
If your business focuses on a certain location, another option would be to seek advertising options throughout the local publications. You can look to offer deals, or specials to attract new customers through print advertising options.
Get out and promote! Look for event sponsorship opportunities to get your name out there. Find networking or social events where you can reach your target audience. The easiest way to get someone to pay attention, will always be face-to-face interaction.
It is much easier for a consumer to scroll past a post, ignore an email, or skim past an ad than to tell someone “No” in person. Marketing resource MarketingProfs mirrors this sentiment, citing a Meeting Professionals International (MPI) report that states “40 percent of prospects converted to new customers via face-to-face meetings, and 28 percent of current business would be lost without face-to-face meetings.”
Find Time to Market Your Business
Many entrepreneurs struggle to find the time to address the marketing needs of their company, as they are too busy keeping up with the daily duties of running their business. Some will outsource different aspects of the business, so they can focus on daily operations. Professional Employer Organizations like GMS can help companies save a lot of time and money, by handling all of their HR related tasks. Contact us today to learn more!