3 Tips for Effective Marketing as a Small, Black-Owned Business
Being a business owner can be both rewarding and challenging. There are many uphill battles to win just starting your business, but it doesn’t end there. To keep your dream alive, you have to adapt, evolve, and be always moving forward. Hard times in your community don't help, but you can overcome and become a pillar in that community through your success. Businesses are more than just places for goods to be exchanged. They can be memory-makers and community change agents. To do that, you need to maintain your success.
Tips to Unlock Effective Marketing
The following are the key tips we’ve seen help grow small businesses and create sustainability in an unstable economy.
Conduct Feedback and Grow Your Community Presence
Get in contact with your regulars and even new customers. You want to create a feedback loop that constantly keeps you adapting to customers’ wants and needs. Make it personal by taking the time to contact your clients via the phone. Build relationships while you’re on the call and collecting data for your business. The old ways aren’t dead, and people appreciate the personal, neighborly touch. If they don’t answer, leave a voicemail that you have prewritten. This tactic builds rapport with your customer base and keeps you on the top of everyone’s mind
Make sure you are at the community functions and shows, especially the big ones. Being present in the community spotlight makes people associate you with their community more. Be on point with your branding and marketing handouts, whether they are business cards, attire with your logo, or whatever, they need to have a way to get to you physically or digitally. Visual appeal and recall is a plus.
Utilize Google to Increase Your Digital Footprint
Google My Business is an invaluable resource to grow your online presence. People use Google Searches and Maps to find local businesses, so increase your odds by having something for them to find. Google My Business is a free and easy to use tool that lets you manage your business’s online presence across the Google network. Customers can find your business, know your story, and verify any business information or reviews. This tool can greatly increase your odds of new and returning customers.
Everyone is on Social Media, You Should Be Too
Social media like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are great platforms to promote your business and boost your brand awareness. They all have millions of users, so not only could it be locals but you could also see business from other states or countries. Digital marketing has become essential for company growth nowadays utilizing everything from blogs, vlogs, posts, B2B lead generation, etc. You can even get ahead of the line by planning and implementing a great SEO strategy. Don’t worry, you can continue to connect with your community and grow your business at the same time. Community focus is key to longevity.
These are the three key tips to effective marketing. Begin your planning and start to implement these strategies to see growth and sustainability for your small business.