Starting a business is easy. It’s as easy as thinking of a product or service to sell, coming up
with a name (make sure the name isn’t already registered) and registering it, and paying annual dues to keep your business in good standing. Now you're a business owner.
But now what?
You want the business to generate revenue. That's the whole point. The internet can make you
think that it's as easy as creating a social media profile and the clients and money will come.
Wrong.
It actually takes a lot of work and effort to generate revenue once you've started your business.
But how? That’s where marketing comes in. Here are 5 simple marketing practices for Small
Business Owners to implement to help grow their business.
1. Create Your Digital Assets.
Create both your website and social media accounts. If you’re familiar with my marketing
methodology, then you know that I think social media is a Necessary evil and is needed in
certain industries more than others.
Your website is one of the few assets you own. Make sure that your website represents your
company in the way you want it to be interpreted by your target audience. It should share: Who
Your Company Is. Why It Matters to the Customer. How they can Support Your Business. Your
Company Story.
Now I’ll admit, my first website was thrown together, but now it’s been updated to reflect the
professionalism of my company and brand. Also, when creating your website please make sure
you have a professional email address, such as info@YourBusinessName.com, not just
[@gmail.com]. People will judge the legitimacy of your business based on this.
When I had my clothing line and transitioned from bespoke clothing into wholesaling, I used my
business and personal Instagram page to sell the clothes, and I lost some sales because I didn’t
have a website. There are several website builders that allow small businesses to create their
websites without being a developer, such as Wix.com and Wordpress.com.
Once you register your business name, you should secure all the social media accounts in your
company name in case you want to use them in the future, and so no one else can secure
them.
2. Identify Your Competitive Advantage.
There are likely several others in your space that do the exact same thing, so you need to
identify what makes your company unique. What is it about your company that gives you an
advantage over your competition?
For example, there are several marketing agencies in the market, but what makes Dumas83
unique is that we are a black-woman-owned firm in Washington, D.C. operated by a native
Washingtonian that amplifies client’s brands using proven marketing theory and develops
avant-garde concepts.
Once you identify your competitive advantage, let people know why your business is unique and
why they should choose you over the competition.
3. Know Your Target Audience
The different generations use different types of media (i.e.- TV, radio, social media, magazines,
etc.) to consume information. If you know your target audience, then you know where they
consume information.
For example, you're not going to reach a 19-year-old by advertising in a magazine. You'll reach
them on Tik Tok, YouTube, or gaming sites. One of my previous clients is an HVAC technician,
and I suggested that he have a presence on homeowner apps such as Thumbtack, Next Door,
etc. to grow his customer base. While this isn't the only way to reach his audience, it helped him
acquire new clients. For me, as a 30-something-year-old, it's all about Word of Mouth Marketing
and email marketing.
So understanding your clients helps you understand where or how to market your product(s) or
service(s) to them.
4. Messaging
Let me go biblical real quick.
Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The tongue can be
used as a weapon to harm and destroy or as a tool to build and heal. What kind of
impact do your words have?
And the same is true for your marketing efforts. The words you chose to promote your company
to your target audience can either draw them in or push them away. Watch this reel I made
about messaging. When you create messaging to reach your target audience, make sure you’re using words and phrases that resonate with them. Stay away from slang, if possible, because
you don’t want to appear as if you’re trying too hard.
5. Promote. Promote. Promote.
The reason people buy your products or services is because they know about it. They can't
know about it unless you promote your business. Promotion can be word of mouth, whether it's
a referral or you're talking directly to someone about your business, or advertising (print or digital).
One of my first paid clients was a result of a direct conversation I had with her, informing her that
I launched my marketing agency. She had recently launched her business and despite her
having a marketing background, she didn't have the bandwidth to promote it herself and was
ready to outsource her marketing efforts.
You also have to constantly promote your company or service so it stays top of mind for your
customer. You never know which of your marketing messaging will cause your target audience
to buy. Remember this phrase: “Tell Them, Tell Them Again and Tell Them Again” when it
comes to promotion, AND remember that consistency is key.
While there are several other, more complex, marketing practices, these are the best ones to
get you started.
If you would like to schedule a free marketing consultation to discuss your specific needs,
please do not hesitate to reach out (https://www.dumas83.com/contact-us).
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