I’ve seen it asked in more than one place – what are the best marketing strategies for small business?
There is no easy – or quick – answer of course. However, there are several factors to consider that help narrow down the possibilities on what those best marketing strategies for small business are.
One Question to Ask Before Determining the Best Marketing Strategies for Small Business
I always – always – say to ask who your audience is first. No other discussion or questions matter until this question is answered. Many take this question so seriously that they create a composite customer they use to test all of their marketing ideas. This is a great approach – just remember that your customer base may be more complex than usual.
Perhaps it is best to think in terms of who you’ve found to be your ideal customer. Whether or not you’re aware of it , you know who this is. Just look in your business’ history or ask others in your business. You know very quickly who the problem customers and prospects are versus the customers you look forward to hearing from.
Is Your Ideal Customer Global, Regional, or Local?
The best marketing strategies for small business differ based on the physical location of your customer. Yes, geography does still matter. Some even argue that it matters more now than ever, because of all the noise generated by social media and the web.
Global?
For example, if your ideal customer is global, are you providing everything they need in terms of information? Could you do more? If so, look at your blogging efforts. This is a great way to serve your existing customers better while winning new ones. How strong is your social media effort in engaging those customers? Are you using the right – or wrong – social media channels for engagement?
Local?
If your customer is local, you can probably do more with regard to your Google Local profile or Google+ account to hone in on prospects.
And, of course, don’t forget what we now call analog marketing. What does that ideal customer do? Where does she go regularly?
What’s Next In Your Strategy?
When determining the best marketing strategies for small business and how they can help you, the devil is of course in the details. But, revisit who your ideal customer is. Then, use that line of logic to guide your decisions – all of them. You’ll discover that you already have many of the answers.
No? Do you feel that this might let me off the hook a little too easily? Reach out or comment below. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
