Marketing Building Blocks
Maybe you’ve started a business and are curious how to start promoting it. Maybe you already have a solid customer base and are looking to provide them with a better experience. No matter where you are in developing your brand, marketing is essential for any business looking to grow. We know firsthand that getting started with any marketing plan can be daunting (especially for small businesses with limited resources), so we’ll dive into what a business needs to start marketing and some tips for getting started on a budget.
A Marketing Strategy
The first thing a business needs to start marketing is an effective and easy-to-implement strategy. A marketing strategy is a plan that outlines your goals, target audience, messaging, and tactics for promoting your business. It should be tailored to your specific business and target audience, and include both short-term and long-term goals for your total company and by channel.
A Website
In today's digital age, a website is essential for any business looking to market itself effectively. Your website is your online persona and should provide a professional and engaging experience for visitors. It should include information about your brand, products or services, and contact information while utilizing best practices for overall user experience. A website also provides a platform for content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) to help you attract new customers and stay relevant with existing ones.
Social Media
Organic social media is a powerful marketing tool that allows your business to reach a wider audience and engage with customers in real-time. Identify which social media platforms your target audience uses the most and create accounts for your business. Most often these start with Instagram and Facebook, but don’t forget others like Pinterest, TikTok, and Twitter which might be where your brand can shine the brightest. Start by posting engaging content, responding to and interacting with customers, and building your following. Here you can test and learn which content your followers are resonating the most with, and implement those learnings on other channels and platforms.
Content
You’ve probably heard “content is king” when it comes to marketing. This includes everything from blog posts to social media posts and videos to user reviews and beyond. Creating high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your target audience is essential for building brand awareness and driving traffic to your website.
Analytics Tools
With any marketing tactic, you need to identify key performance goals (KPIs), which means you will need to be able to report on performance. Analytics tools allow businesses to track and measure the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. They provide valuable insights into which tactics are working and which ones need improvement. Google Analytics is a popular analytics tool that provides valuable data on website traffic, user behavior, and conversion. There are also many in-platform analytics tools, like with Facebook and email services. Keeping track of your performance over time will allow you to plot trends and re-allocate budget appropriately to maximize your return on ad spend (ROAS).
Tips for Getting Started on a Budget
Marketing can be expensive, but there are many ways to get started on a budget. Here are a few tips:
Start small and focus on one or two marketing channels at first.
Use free or low-cost tools, such as social media and email marketing platforms.
Create high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your target audience.
In lieu of a pricey influencer program, leverage user-generated content, such as customer reviews and testimonials.
Collaborate with other businesses or influencers in your industry to reach a wider audience.
Not sure how to get started on something like this? We’d love to talk about it! Send us a message using the contact form below.
- Laura & Nicole