Welp MagazineRunning a small business is no easy task. Running a small business is no easy task. Around 20 percent of small businesses fail within their first year. Not only do you need to keep your existing customer base happy, but you have to continue to find and attract new customers. After all, the goal isn’t just to survive, it’s to succeed — and success requires growth.
As such, it’s essential that you develop a comprehensive marketing plan that includes both inbound and outbound methods consisting of both digital marketing and traditional marketing efforts. Additionally, you’ll need to develop growth strategies and continuously evolve your marketing strategy to make progress. With that in mind, the following are 15 ideas for growing your small business:
1. Create a Website
A website is critical to promoting your business and generating leads and customers. By creating a website, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience and promote your products or services in a more effective way.
2. Implement a Referral Program
Incentivizing customers to refer your business to others is a great way to generate leads and promote word-of-mouth marketing. After all, happy customers are more likely to tell others about your company if they’re given an incentive to do so.
3. Sponsor Community Events and Initiatives
Sponsoring community events, such as a Little League baseball game, is a great way to show that you’re invested in the well-being of your community and generate goodwill. It’s also a great way to spread awareness of your business and improve your reputation.
4. Grow Your Local Business with Wellness Kiosk Advertising
Wellness kiosk advertising can be an effective way for local businesses to increase brand awareness, reach potential customers, and ultimately grow their business. By placing wellness kiosks in high-traffic areas such as shopping malls or airports, local businesses can attract more customers and increase foot traffic to their stores. This can help local businesses target their advertising efforts and reach the right people at the right time. Partnering with a DOOH and OOh advertising company can help businesses create visually appealing and memorable ads that will catch people’s attention and leave a lasting impression.
5. Invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
To ensure that your website will be visible in search engine results, you’ll need to invest in SEO. This involves optimizing your website for specific keywords and phrases so that it appears higher in search engine results. Doing so can help you attract potential customers who are actively searching for businesses like yours.
6. Start a Blog
Content marketing is a great way to attract new customers and grow your business. By starting a blog and publishing high-quality, informative content, you can position yourself as an expert in your industry and attract potential customers who are looking for information related to your business.
7. Hold Social Media Contests
By holding a contest and requiring people to follow or like your social media page to enter, you can quickly grow your social media presence and reach a larger audience.
8. Create a Newsletter
An email newsletter can help keep customers up-to-date on what’s going on with your business, nurture current customers, and present upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
9. Create a Customer Loyalty Program
Rewarding your customers for their loyalty will encourage them to continue doing business with you and develop brand loyalty. There are a number of different ways to structure a loyalty program, such as offering discounts, freebies, or exclusive access to new products or services.
10. Give Away Free Samples or Trials
Providing potential customers with free samples or trials is a great way to introduce them to your products or services. Doing so also allows them to see the value that your business can provide.
11. Set Up an eCommerce Store
It’s estimated that over 2 billion customers shop online around the world. By allowing customers to buy products online using their credit cards, you can make it easier for them to do business with you. Not only will this help increase sales, but it will also help generate more long-term customers.
12. Develop Partnerships With Other Local Businesses
By developing partnerships with complementary businesses, you can reach a larger audience within your target market by tapping into each other’s customer base, which can help you grow your business even more.
13. Speak at Industry Events
Speaking at industry events such as local meetups or national conferences can help build your brand authority. Not only will you be able to share your knowledge and expertise, but you’ll also be able to generate leads and form potential partnerships.
14. Use Digital Signage
Digital signage is a great way to capture the attention of potential customers and promote your business. By using digital signage, you can display information about your business, specials, or promotions in a highly visible way.
15. Showcase Your Corporate Social Responsibility
More consumers are interested in doing business with companies that are environmentally and socially responsible. If your company is involved in charitable work or sustainability initiatives, be sure to showcase this on your website and in your marketing materials.
16. Get Listed in Online Directories
Getting listed in online directories will help to generate leads and promote your business. By getting listed in directories, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience and increase your visibility. It’s also a great way to improve local SEO.
These are 15 ideas for entrepreneurs and small business owners that can help promote business growth. It’s important that you take the time to assess your situation and determine which methods will suit your business strategy best. With a little effort and a lot of dedication, you can grow your startup into a successful business.
