As a small business owner, you understand the importance of promoting your business, but you may not know where to start or how you should be investing your advertising dollars. Here are some of the best advertising strategies for small businesses to help you launch an effective advertising campaign. (courtesy of the Better Business Bureau)
1. Advertise On Social Media
With approximately 4.55 billion people worldwide now using social media, there's no better place to advertise your small business. Each platform attracts a slightly different demographic, so you can reach a broad audience without spending too much money.
2. Advertise On Your local Chamber Of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce is a great place to advertise your small business. It allows you to reach new people in your community on a limited budget and is also an excellent way to build relationships with other local business owners. Many locals frequent the Chamber's website, making it an effective way to get in front of new customers.
3. Create An Affiliate Program
Affiliate programs are another excellent way to market your small business; they are considered a low-budget, high-impact marketing tactic. You can partner with other companies, bloggers, or YouTube channels, and they will promote your products and services in exchange for a percentage of the profits. Affiliate programs are a great way to generate leads for your small business and build your brand's reputation.
4. Create Sponsored Ads On Social Media
Sponsored ads on social media appear in your target audience's newsfeed, even if they don't follow your page. Research shows that in 2020, 83% of marketers used social media advertising and ranked it as the second most successful advertising method (with search engine marketing coming in first). This strategy is effective because you can target specific demographics, such as by location and interests, to ensure you are getting the most value out of your advertising dollars.
5. Create And Share Sponsored Content
Sponsored content is a great way to get your brand noticed. You can create original content, such as blog posts or videos, and then partner with brands willing to share your content in exchange for compensation.
6. Invest In Influencer Marketing
Nearly 63% of consumers trust influencer recommendations – meaning they are more likely to buy a product recommended by an influencer than simply endorsed by the company selling it. Influencers can help build your brand's reputation and generate leads at a lower cost than traditional advertising.
7. Invest In Paid Search Advertising
Investing in paid search advertising allows you to reach potential customers searching for a product or service similar to yours. With a small budget, you can target a specific audience based on location, browser, and other relevant information.
8. CTV Ads
Connected TV (CTV) ad spend is increasing as more consumers invest in streaming services than traditional over-the-top (OTT) video. CTV ad spend is expected to grow from $9.03 billion in 2020 to $19.10 billion in 2022, making it a popular advertising format among small businesses. That's because CTV ads are relatively inexpensive yet can reach a large audience.
9. Make The Most Of Online Listings
The internet is a powerful tool for small businesses, and one of the best ways for users to find you is through online listings such as Bing, Yelp, and Google, where you can post your address, contact details, and services offered.
10. Get BBB Accredited
The Better Business Bureau is an excellent resource for small businesses. Becoming Accredited with the BBB allows you to list your business on the BBB's website, which is a great way to build your brand's reputation and attract new customers. It also allows you to take advantage of BBB's valuable resources and tools to help you run your business in a competitive market.
If you'd like to employ any of these suggestions but don't have the cash on hand, Quikstone Capital Solutions can help. Since 2005, Quikstone has helped thousands of businesses like yours grow and prosper with easy, fast, and flexible working capital for all their business needs.
A cash advance from Quikstone is not a loan; it's a purchase of a small portion of your future credit card sales. There's a simple one-page application, and no collateral is needed. If you process credit cards, you could qualify for as much as $250,000. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and 80% of our merchants are repeat customers.
Contact us today and get started with a no-cost or obligation consultation.
