Marketing Strategies for Your SME
You’ve started a business, hired employees and rented out an office space – but how do you get the name of your SME out there? It’s tricky to know where to start when you have little experience in marketing, especially when you first get your business up and running. Marketing is a vital part of reaching your customer base, regardless of their demographic, and shouldn’t be a last minute thought. Whether you’re just getting started in business or looking for a way to jazz up your marketing, try out the following methods to have a successful marketing strategy.
Establishing a Strong Brand
Having a clear agenda is important for any business, no matter the type of service that is offered. The first part of any marketing strategy should be to develop your brand development, making note of the tone and message you want to portray through your marketing. Your logo should feature on all of your platforms and advertisements as it acts as the face of your business, giving the public an insight into the services you provide. Linking your logo to your general marketing is vital; if, for example, you have a colourful logo with a playful tone, you don’t want to then have a dull, mature e-newsletter. Your branding should encapsulate who you are as a business and attract your target demographic through design as well as the content.
Reach Out to the Local Community
It’s easy to forget about the client base around you once you’ve turned attention to the online world, but they’re equally as important, if not more. Leaflets in local magazines, letterboxes and are a great way to reach out to those local to your business. Offering an exclusive small discount code or loyalty card on these leaflets will not only get your name out there but help build a faithful customer base.
With a plethora of printers and toner cartridges readily available at an affordable price, producing a professional leaflet that epitomises your business doesn’t have to be expensive. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes and that it shows off the best of your business, otherwise it can come across as unprofessional.
Social Media
One of the first things you should do when implementing a marketing strategy is to make the most of social media. Facebook is one of the most important for all businesses, but you may also want to set-up a Twitter and Instagram to connect with customers further while providing assistance to those who need it. Make sure to keep your account professional, helpful and easily found, which includes writing a summary of the business in the biography. Another tip is to jump on social media ‘challenges’, popular hashtags and news that is of relevance for you. Doing so connects you to a wider audience, helping you reach those who may not have found your business through search alone.
Video
Take your marketing strategy one step further by providing video content to your clients. The type of content you produce will depend on the business you do, but it could be anything from behind the scenes to tips and tricks of using your products. Video boosts the buzz and conversation about your business, with many people preferring to watch a short clip over a long blog post. Showing off what the product can do or giving an example of your services not only builds trust with your audience but can increase understanding about what you offer.
Every brand needs to reach its target audience successfully, and having a well-developed marketing strategy is key to doing so. Take some time to plan out your brand identity and how you want to portray the business before implementing any of the above tips to build a loyal relationship with your audience.
We hope you enjoyed this promoted piece as much as we did!
