It’s no secret that an extensive marketing plan is the bread and butter of any successful business. If you don’t market your product or service to the public, then nobody will know about it. However, almost every type of marketing technique and trick has been used up by the overflowing amount of small businesses out in the world today. Thus, in order to build a successful marketing plan you must develop unique and broad small business marketing ideas. Here are 5 essential small business marketing ideas to compete in today’s dog eat dog world:
Website – Although this isn’t the most unique idea, it is an essential one. With a majority of the world connected to the Internet, a Website is vital to the success of your company. Not having a Site up and running to promote your product or service basically tells people that you don’t take your small business seriously, or that you don’t have a quality product or service. That’s why out of all the small business marketing ideas, this is probably one of the most important ones.
Search Engine Marketing – Once your Website is up and running, it’s important to make its presence known throughout the Internet. Search engine marketing is one way to put your Website toward the top of the list on search engines like Google, and Yahoo. An SEM firm that you hire will take you through a number of different methods and small business marketing ideas to build more traffic to your Site. This may and probably will entail optimizing the content on your Site for certain searchable keywords, sending out press releases via PRWeb, writing articles for distribution, and more.
Social Networking Sites – Though sites like MySpace may seem like a waste of time when it comes to small business marketing ideas, it is exactly the opposite. MySpace has made it feasible to easily reach to potential customers across the globe. Create a profile, search out potential customers, and market away. Use as many different Websites as you can to drive traffic to your specific Website.
Advertisement – Advertising is another obvious way to market your business. However, developing an advertisement that will actually profit your product is another story. With millions of advertisements out in the world, how will your stand out from the rest? Those outside of your business can be very helpful in developing an advertising campaign and other small business marketing ideas. Advertise on the Internet, papers, and other places in your niche market.
Merchandise for Free! – One hit the streets small business marketing idea is free merchandise with your small business logo and Website printed on it. Hand them out in places where your target market might frequent, give them to your clients, and use them shamelessly to promote your small business. T-shirt printing has become a cheap way to do this along with pens, coasters, and other cool merchandise.