Small businesses account for over 99% of US companies. Setting up your own business offers freedom and flexibility and the opportunity to turn a passion into profits. If you run a home business, and you’re looking to boost sales and bring in new customers, this guide is packed with tips to get your brand noticed.
Embrace social media
Social media is a brilliant platform for small business owners. Social media marketing offers a cost-effective solution for companies of all sizes to attract new customers and spread news of products and services. You can advertise and sell products and services via social media, but you can also entice new customers by raising brand awareness and sharing reviews. Social media apps are also great for showing the human side of the brand and engaging with new followers and repeat customers. If you’re new to social media, start following other local businesses and ask your followers to share posts and encourage their followers to like your profile. Hosting a giveaway is a fantastic way to build a bigger following rapidly. Ask your followers to share your post or story and tag multiple friends in exchange for entry into a competition or prize giveaway.
Find local events and shows
If you’re targeting local customers, look for events and shows in your area. Find out about running stalls and stands and order professional, customized business cards from a print shop and promotional, branded items to hand out to buyers. Giving away free samples is an excellent tactic for building crowds and attracting attention. When researching events, focus on your target market. If you sell homemade cakes, for example, food festivals, food and drink trade shows and local fairs and galas with food tents or stands are ideal.
Use local SEO
Local SEO (search engine optimization) is a digital marketing method, which helps businesses to create leads in their local area. Studies show that almost 50% of Google searches now have a local focus. Nearly 90% of consumers will either visit or contact a company within 24 hours of carrying out a local search. If you’re not up to speed with SEO, you can access detailed guides online and use methods such as sharing reviews on local websites, joining local directories and writing blog posts that include keywords with specific place names. You may also want to consider hiring a freelance marketer or working with a digital marketing agency depending on your budget and your business objectives.
Encourage customers to share reviews
Positive reviews are worth their weight in gold for small businesses. Word-of-mouth marketing may have evolved, but it remains extremely influential. More than 90% of consumers use reviews to make purchasing decisions. Encourage customers to share reviews and recommend your brand to others. This will help you retain loyal clients and attract new customers.
Getting a small business noticed isn’t always easy. If you’re eager to bring in new customers and boost client retention rates, consider these tactics. Embrace social media, look for local events and shows to promote your products and services, encourage customers to share reviews and use local SEO.
