9 Proven Ways to Market Your Small Business in the New Year

Hudoff Design Staff | Published January 3, 2023 | Tag(s): General

The new year is officially upon us, and like me, you may be looking for some new ways to spice up your small business marketing toolkit. Thankfully, there are so many ways that a small business can market itself these days! We’ve taken the time to compile this list of 9 proven ways you can level up your small business marketing game in the year ahead! Take a look and let us know which recommendation is your favorite in the comments below!

Social media marketing: In the age of the internet, it is crucial to use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to connect with potential and current customers, promote your products or services, and share company updates. Make sure to share important updates on your social media channels and post there at least once a week.

Content marketing: Create and share valuable, informative, and entertaining content that helps to establish your business as an industry thought leader. This can include blog posts, infographics, videos, and more. This content is extremely shareable and gives you something to post to your social media channels!

Email marketing: Small businesses often sleep on email marketing and its full potential! The truth is, using email newsletters or automated email campaigns is an excellent way to keep in touch with your customers and promote your products or services between visits!

Search engine optimization (SEO): While it may sound daunting, optimizing your website and online content can help it rank higher in search engine results and attract more organic traffic. This will pay dividends in the long run and help your small business be the first choice customers make when searching for goods and services online.

Paid advertising: Using paid advertising platforms like Google AdWords or social media advertising are great ways to reach targeted audiences and drive traffic to your website. The beauty of this kind of paid advertising is how granular and specific you can get when spending your advertising dollars. By being selective with your target audiences, you can be sure your marketing budget is being spent on the people most likely to choose your business.

Networking: Attending local events and joining business organizations is one of the best ways to make connections and promote your business to a wider audience. Don’t be shy! Join your local chamber of commerce or business incubator and participate in local business-focused events. In most cases, the exposure gained from these events far outweighs the nominal costs involved.

Public relations: Many small businesses don't realize that they can use press releases, media outreach, and other tactics to get coverage for their business in the news and other media outlets. Don’t be afraid to reach out to local media outlets when promoting an event or sale! Some may run a story on your business or give you a callout on their website or social media channels.

Influencer marketing: You may think that influencer marketing only works for big corporations with massive marketing budgets. The truth is, even small businesses can partner with influencers or industry experts in their area to promote their products or services to their followers. Be on the lookout for local creators and personalities on the rise; working with them on a sponsored post or shoutout could give your business the boost it needs in the new year!

Referral marketing: Encouraging satisfied customers to refer their friends and colleagues to your business is one of the easiest and most cost effective marketing strategies on this list! Word of mouth is incredibly powerful, so encourage your customers to leave reviews, spread the word about your business online, and recommend your services to friends and family. If you really want to encourage word of mouth marketing, consider starting a referral bonus program or a rewards program.

While there are certainly many other ways to market your small business, these 9 tips should help point you in the right direction! By using a combination of these marketing tactics, your small business can effectively promote itself and reach a ton of new customers. Here’s to a happy and productive new year ahead!

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