When you first start out in business, it’s not easy to keep up with all the minute details that come along with each aspect of running a business. In fact, many would-be business owners begin to founder before they’ve even begun gaining any traction.
The pressure might be high, but this is life in the business world. And though most of us have to start out in the trenches and work our way out with no end in sight, reaching a successful plateau isn’t an impossibility.
When you start out in business, you have to have a marketing plan. And this plan can be as elaborate as you wish. But before you go planning to offer balloon rides to your first 50 customers, you’ll want to take a logical approach.
In this post, we’ll explore a few strategies to consider when you first start out in business.
Create Promotional Materials
No matter what type of business you’re developing, you’ll need to enable yourself to be recognized and noticed in your local community and abroad.
The best way to get yourself noticed (aside from having great products and services) is to develop promotional materials that you can use to get your name out there and get people interested in your business.
Promotional products can vary considerably, and this is mostly up to your personal preference and your own creativity. For example, you can produce trinkets, mousepads, styluses, apparel, magnets, coffee mugs, or even personalized stickers with your slogan or logo.
The more eyes you have on your name or your logo, the more interest you’ll be able to generate within your local community.
Additionally, if you have an online storefront, offering promotional materials can also spread your name far and wide, and you might start getting business from places you never thought possible.
Choosing the Best Social Media Sites
Social media is everywhere these days and to the dismay of some. But regardless of your views on social media in general, it still remains a valuable business tool for anyone in the business world.
But what social media sites are right for your business? The answer mostly depends on what you’re selling or the services you’re offering.
If you want to start out, it’s probably best to begin with the big kids on the block. Currently, Facebook and Instagram are huge market corners that can assist you with developing a following and sharing information about your business.
But let’s not forget about Pinterest, YouTube, and Twitter. Basically, if your product is creatively related, any one of these sites can be used to leverage your efforts. But if you want to start a conversation to keep people informed, Twitter is by far the best choice.
Anything with video content will be best suited for YouTube or Instagram, while image only content will be best suited for Pinterest. But the best strategy is to play around with all of your profiles and watch your analytics to see where your engagement is highest.
Market Locally
While the online world is usually every beginning business owner’s go-to for marketing, you can’t forget about your own local community.
Networking begins organically at the local level, and it only grows from there. And the only way for your local community to get to know you is for you to interact as much as possible with local business leaders.
Marketing locally can be as simple as passing out flyers, attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, attending local fairs, festivals and events, or by walking the beat and meeting your customers face-to-face.
Remember, the more people you meet and tell about your business, the greater your chances of being successful.
Marketing yourself doesn’t have to be a grueling process. In fact, it should be a fun learning experience that you can perfect over time. And just because one strategy doesn’t work in the beginning, give it some time and you’ll eventually gain enough traction to make ends meet.
