OSHA and Safety Requirements for the Cannabis IndustryEvery business owner recognizes the need to share the right message with the right group of customers with the most effective tool. This sounds easy enough, but how can you quickly market your small business and gain customer attention?
Here are 5 simple marketing strategies to ensure that your company is covering its bases in terms of marketing:
1. Engage in the community
It’s important to truly know and understand the customers your business strives to serve. The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends participating in community organizations or serving on local boards or committees to build stronger connections with potential customers. This type of grassroots engagement can also be achieved by volunteering in local events or hosting networking events at your business. Most municipalities have various business clubs and chambers of commerce where you can make valuable personalized connections. Meeting new contacts in person makes a stronger impression than email or phone calls and can help you quickly gain referrals and exposure without any cost.
2. Online outreach
The online world continues to evolve, and having an effective website is a must for any business. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and shares basic information about your company in clear and concise language. Also consider how you are using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to share information about your business and interact with customers. These sites encourage customer interaction and enable you to showcase your brand and connect with your audience with a personal voice. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, either; tools like Buffer or Hootsuite can help you manage your business’s social media accounts more strategically, planning posts in advance to align with a content calendar or upcoming events or sales. Plus, sponsored ads and promoted posts on Facebook and Twitter are generally inexpensive and can help you target a specific demographic or geographic audience with specific items.
3. Build your network
Build awareness of your business in the community by participating in conferences, panels and other events. Research what types of events that local groups host where you might make valuable connections and meet new people. These might be events based on political interests, community service or other local businesses that will enable you to share information about your business in person, expanding your referral network and making genuine connections with potential customers. Also, don’t be afraid to ask friends or colleagues for introductions to people you would like to become acquainted with; this is a great way to expand your existing network with new connections.
4. Let’s make a deal
It is easier for consumers to commit to purchasing a good or service if they are certain of its quality. What’s more, customers like to know that they are getting a good deal. To this end, it can be beneficial to provide free samples or trials or significant discounts. Another option is to provide an exclusive online code for a special offer, in order to drive customers to your social channels, simultaneously increasing your online engagement. A new customer who is willing to try your product with a discount is more likely to become a return customer. After an initial positive experience, make this a solid long-term strategy.
5. Introduce a customer newsletter
An email newsletter is an easy and inexpensive way to keep customers engaged and aware of your business. You can use a newsletter to share new products, services and business updates, as well as industry news and trends that could affect their current products. Newsletters are a simple way to leverage customer testimonials and positive reviews and keep your company foremost in the minds of your clientele.
Small business marketing doesn’t require a tremendous budget and can evolve along with your business. As you make decisions that affect your business, stay connected to how and where you borrow funds. As a direct loan lender, Fundation holds all its loans on its own balance sheet and will never sell or transfer your loan. Fundation keeps a vested interest in its customers’ success, working with them throughout the life of the loan.
Our lending partner Fundation provides fixed rate online small business loans, offering your small business more freedom to focus on things like marketing.
Are you considering a business loan? Contact our partner Fundation to learn more.
