Marketing your small business is crucial if you want to succeed. However, if you are like most small business owners, you are wearing many hats and it is hard to find the time. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet to have the best marketing plan for your small business. Consider the following to establish a successful marketing plan:
1. Know your Audience.
One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make is trying to reach everyone with their advertising. The truth is you don’t have what everyone desires. Once you have identified that target audience, explore further to understand them and how you can reach them in the most authentic way.
2. Create Goals and Objectives
You cannot measure your success if you are not setting your goals. Your goals should be SMART –
Specific – Marketing goals should be very specific. Saying you want to improve your sales is vague. Saying you want to improve your sales 10% is clear.
Measurable – Have a tangible way of measuring your marketing goals. You will spend money on your marketing to increase your business. However, if you are not tracking the business, you will have no way to see if your goals are successful.
Attainable – Don’t set unrealistic goals. It is important to consider any limitations that might impede your goal.
Relevant – Make sure the goals are moving your business forward. There should be a real benefit attached to reaching your chosen objective.
Time – Set a timeline for when you are going to accomplish your goals. In the next 12 months, I want to increase my sales 10%.
3. Create a strong brand.
A brand is more than just a name, a logo, and colors. A brand is a promise to your customers that they can expect quality, reliability, and consistency from your business.
Small business owners often feel like they are alone on an island. If you struggle with communicating your business to the public, it’s time to seek professional guidance. At The Wendt Agency, we work with small businesses to become true partners to help clients establish a strong brand and understand their audience so that they can achieve and exceed their goals.
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