In order to be profitable you need to make sales, so you’re always looking for new and improved small business marketing ideas.
Or at least you should be.
Today we’re talking about real-world strategies you can use to promote your online business.
Small business marketing ideas for the real world
Having a strong digital presence is important but don’t discount traditional tactics.
I’ll be the first to admit I’m biased because I spend most of my time working with traditional media and dealing with people who don’t have a digital-first approach. That said, there are a LOT of people who don’t live in the Internet bubble and they like buying things too.
Here are a few small business marketing ideas to consider.
In-person networking
Networking is super important in business. Even if you’re introverted. People are often shy to talk about their business because they don’t want people to think they’re bragging or pressuring them to buy something.
But trust me, there’s a way to talk about your business in a non-threatening way.
You do need to find creative ways to sprinkle it into your conversations but the point is, mention it.
If you’re hoping people discover you online so you don’t have to do the scary marketing thing I’m sorry to say this is going to be a slow venture.
Find a natural way to integrate your business into your every-day life and then when it fits, mention it. Networking is an art and there are many people who don’t do it right. If you can learn strong networking skills, it is effective. SUPER effective.
Local events
Attending or sponsoring local events doesn’t fit every type of business but make sure to go if you find one where your ideal customers will be hanging out.
If you have a physical product make sure to bring those and hand out samples or have a booth. If you sell digital products or services you can have some sort of swag that makes sense to pass out.
I’ve found great results from attending events and participating in them as a speaker or vendor. This small business marketing idea can be a great business booster if you apply a little creativity to it.
Do you you want a bit more guidance discovering your ideal reader?
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Local media
Don’t discount local newspapers or radio stations. They work hard to produce relevant local content and are an excellent way to get the word out about your business.
If you don’t have an advertising budget think about other ways you can get media coverage.
- Can you contribute a weekly column about your area of expertise?
- Are you able to provide an interesting point of view on a subject they’re asking for community input on?
Call the outlet and see how you can help them.
Another way to get local media coverage is to join local boards and campaigns. Make yourself available for interviews to talk about the great work your volunteer group is doing when the journalists call to cover the event. It’s a win-win-win.
One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.
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