Regardless of the type of small business you want to start from home, marketing is essential. To gain new customers and help your business grow, people need to know your company exists.

You can spend as little or as much as you want on marketing, the key is spending it in the right places. There’s little point spending thousands of pounds doing the same things over and over if you aren’t reaping the rewards.

What works for one business won’t necessarily work for another, so it is very much a case of trying many different methods for a period then analyzing the results. Here are 3 marketing methods that could help make you a successful small business owner.

Local marketing

There are many different ways to market your business locally. It may be that many of the locals don’t know your company even exists, so doing something for the community, such as sponsoring a local team or charity is a great way to get your name and brand recognized. You may be surprised at the level of new interest generated.

Collaborating with other local businesses is another idea that can prove beneficial, not only for your business but for the local area. If, for example, you run a bridal boutique, speak to your local florists, nail bar, and hairdressing salon, and discuss the possibility of creating a one-stop-shop scenario. You may attract people from further afield as well as locally.

Digital marketing

Digital marketing is a must these days, particularly for any e-commerce business. As stated in a recent article published by Maryville University, “Before the digital age, communications professionals had to navigate print media, TV, radio, and billboard advertising. While those channels are still important, current professionals must be well-versed in digital platforms, such as social networks, email, messaging apps, and blogs.”

Social media, in particular, has provided businesses with a potential audience of millions, so it’s important to take advantage of this and create lots of eye-catching, unique, and regular content.

Engage with your customers and allow them to get to know your company and what you stand for. Once some familiarity and trust have developed, customers are more likely to buy from you and recommend you to others. Digital marketing can open lots of new doors – get it right and your business could grow bigger than you ever imagined.

Existing customers

Whilst trying to attract new customers is something that you should always focus on, you should never underestimate the power of your existing ones. Whilst it’s not a direct marketing tool, a good customer experience can go a long way into helping build a business.

Keep clients informed throughout each stage of their purchase and make sure you have good quality control and fabulous after-sales services in place. From start to finish, a customer’s journey could be the deciding factor between a good review and a bad one. If they have a great experience, not only are they more likely to recommend you to others, there will also be a far higher chance of them buying from you again.

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