Running a small business is a constant balance of managing day-to-day operations, making strategic decisions, and marketing yourself to current and prospective clients and throughout your community.
Top 20 Small Business Marketing Checklist
2024 is a landmark year for Omaha Advertising as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. To start this special year, we’ve compiled a TOP 20 list of essential actions that every small business should take to effectively promote their business.
In today’s competitive market, promoting your small business consistently and effectively is crucial for attracting more customers and increasing profits. While there are numerous strategies out there, focusing on the right ones can make a significant difference. Below are the top 20 things you can do to promote your small business yourself, ensuring that you remain top of mind for both potential new customers and current clients. These strategies range from digital marketing efforts like maintaining a user-friendly website and implementing effective SEO, to more traditional methods such as distributing brochures and business cards. Additionally, embracing newer trends like social media presence and content marketing can greatly enhance your visibility. Don’t forget the power of physical branding through branded clothing and vehicles, which can turn every encounter into a promotional opportunity. Each of these strategies is designed to boost your brand’s presence in the market, engage effectively with your audience, and ultimately drive business growth. By integrating these top 20 marketing items into your strategy, you are setting your business up for increased visibility, customer engagement, and profitability.
- Website: An updated, mobile-friendly, and user-friendly website is crucial. It should clearly present your services or products, contact information, and “About Us” page.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Implement SEO strategies to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. This includes using relevant keywords, optimizing website speed, and creating quality content.
- Social Media Presence: Establish and maintain active profiles on platforms relevant to your audience (like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X). Post regularly and engage with your audience.
- Brochures, Flyers, etc.: Design professional printed materials that outline your products or services. These can be digital or printed for distribution in local areas or at events.
- Business Cards: Create and distribute well-designed business cards. They should include your contact information, logo, and website.
- Email Marketing: Build an email list and send regular newsletters or promotional emails. Ensure the content is relevant and engaging to your audience. [Read our “Top 10 Email Marketing Statistics” post]
- Employee Email Signatures: Use uniform email signatures for all employees that include the company’s contact information and website. This enhances professionalism and brand consistency.
- Content Marketing: Create and share valuable content like blog posts, videos, infographics, etc., relevant to your audience. This helps in establishing your business as an authority in your field.
- Customer Reviews & Testimonials: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or your social media profiles. Highlight positive testimonials on your website.
- Networking & Partnerships: Engage in local networking events, join business groups, and form partnerships with complementary businesses to expand your reach.
- Online Advertising: Consider using online advertising platforms like Google Ads or social media ads to target potential customers.
- Loyalty Programs: Implement loyalty programs or special offers for repeat customers to encourage ongoing business.
- Press Releases & Public Relations: Use press releases for significant business updates or events, and engage in PR activities to get featured in local media.
- Community Involvement: Participate in or sponsor community events. This increases brand visibility and portrays your business as community-oriented.
- Direct Mail: Send postcards, flyers, or catalogs to targeted lists to promote your products or services.
- Trade Shows & Expos: Attend or exhibit at trade shows and expos relevant to your industry for networking and showcasing your products or services.
- Webinars & Workshops: Host webinars or workshops to educate your audience about your industry or products, positioning your business as a knowledgeable leader.
- Analytics & Feedback: Regularly review analytics from your website and social media to understand customer behavior. Also, seek feedback to improve your marketing strategies.
- Branded Clothing or Uniforms: Distributing or wearing clothing with your company’s logo and branding, like t-shirts, hats, or jackets, for employees or as giveaways. This turns every wearer into a walking advertisement for your brand.
- Branded Vehicles: Wrapping company vehicles with your business’s branding and logo. This turns your vehicles into moving billboards, increasing local visibility as they travel.
Running a small business requires resilience, adaptability, and a relentless commitment to both your products/services and your customers. It’s a constant balance of managing day-to-day operations, making strategic decisions, and fostering relationships with clients and the community. Continuously marketing your business is crucial, both in prosperous times and during downturns. In good times, effective marketing helps capitalize on momentum, growing your customer base and strengthening brand loyalty. In challenging times, it’s even more critical, as consistent marketing efforts maintain visibility, remind existing customers of your value, and can attract new clientele when they are most needed. This ongoing commitment to marketing ensures your business stays connected with its audience, remains competitive in the market, and is positioned for long-term success.
Focus Your Energy on Your Business
Hire Omaha Advertising to help with Marketing!
Hiring an experienced marketing team is like bringing in a specialist, similar to an accountant or lawyer. It’s a smart move for a business owner or manager. While an accountant handles finances and a lawyer deals with legal matters, a marketing team focuses on effectively promoting the business. This approach allows the business owner and management to concentrate on running daily operations, knowing that their marketing is in expert hands. It’s a practical way to ensure professional marketing strategies are in place, freeing up time and resources for the business to thrive in other areas.