Starting a business is an exciting journey, but getting the word out about your brand or your work can feel overwhelming at first. As a new entrepreneur, promoting your business doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank or doing everything at once.
With a mix of creativity and smart strategies, you can reach the right audience and build your reputation step by step as there are plenty of ways to showcase your business and set it up for success.
The Federation of Small Businesses suggests marketing your business utilising the media through public relations (PR), which involves getting articles about your business in publications and online websites. This can be achieved through new contracts, product launches, reaching milestones, or sharing strong opinions on a subject relating to your brand and having that published. This allows you to inform people more about your business, and be seen in the right places promoting your values and culture.
The above source further mentions that social media is a crucial tool for businesses to reach and engage with a large audience. It is said to allow businesses to connect with existing customers and introduce new ones. To create a successful social media marketing campaign, the publication states that businesses should consider their goals, target audience, platforms, and content.
“If you are in a service-based industry, free resources and tips from your business can go a long way – you’ll become their go-to when searching for information, leading to potential new clients. If you are a product or brand, invest in photography and video and create a consistent brand identity with your assets. It’s also worth knowing that video is one of the most engaging assets, so use it whenever possible.”
To increase brand awareness and connect with your target audience, Chase for Business suggests that you create engaging content through blogs, video tutorials, or infographics. If you have a website for your business, it is encouraged that you optimise the website’s search engine optimisation by using relevant keywords. “SEO involves much more than keyword usage, though, so it’s helpful to do some research online or find a book that outlines how to prime your site’s performance on search engines. You might also consider hiring an SEO agency to help optimize your website.”
It is also important to invest in high-quality visuals, including photos or videos of your products, services, facilities, or staff. The above source also suggests paying for advertising through television and radio ads, promoted social media posts or pay-per-click ads.
Finally, what’s more, effective than human interaction? The mentioned source urges that you participate in local and community events to network with fellow business owners and prospective customers. These strategies help your business stand out in the market and attract more customers.
Also see: Side hustles to tap into as a young person in South Africa
