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We believe that technology can become the great equalizer in marketing your small business. The proper implementation and integration of technology in your business can make it work smarter and not harder. Time and energy are often resources a private owned business cannot afford to waste (even more than money). We would love the opportunity to consult with you on various ways to improve your business with

Set your goals and budget

Marketing goals will help you to define what you want to achieve through your marketing activities. Your goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based.

You will also need to allocate a budget to your marketing activities. Your marketing budget will need to include elements such as:

  • Website development and maintenance
  • Search engine optimisation strategy
  • Design of branding
  • Printing of promotional material (business cards, brochures, signage, etc)
  • Advertising
  • Donations and sponsorships
  • Employing staff to undertake marketing activities.

Conduct market research

Market research is a key part of developing your market strategy. It is about collecting information that provides an insight into your customers thinking, buying patterns, and location. In addition, market research can also assist you to undertake an initial sales forecast, monitor market trends and keep an eye on what your competition is doing.

Identify your unique selling proposition (USP)

A USP is the unique reason your customers buy from you and not your competitors – it’s what makes your business stand out from the crowd. It is important to define what you do differently and be able to convey that to potential customers. Commonly, this reflects your special knowledge or skills.

Your USP may be having a new or unique offering or providing exceptional service. Start developing your USP by answering the following questions:

  • What do you love most about your products and services?
  • What special skills or knowledge do you have?
  • What makes your customers come to you instead of your competitors?
  • How do your customers benefit by purchasing your products or services?
  • Which aspects do you generally highlight when you describe your business to strangers?

Monitor and review

It is important to regularly monitor and review your marketing activities to determine whether they are achieving the desired outcome, such as increased sales. Initially you should review your marketing plan every three months to ensure your activities are supporting your strategy. Once your business becomes more established review your plan when you introduce a new product or service, if a new competitor enters the market or if an issue arises that affects your industry.

Monitoring activities may include reviewing your sales figures on a regular basis (monthly) or monitoring customer activity during an advertising campaign. You can also access and review free analytic tools to determine the effectiveness of your social media or website campaigns.

When you are ready please do not hesitate to call us for a consultation. We are here to support Small Businesses that Support our Communites!