The dictionary definition of marketing is “the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising”. Well, that doesn’t tell you much does it so let’s expand on what it is, how I do it, and why it is important for your small business.
Firstly, lets cover some of the different types of Marketing and explain how they can be of benefit to your small business…
Internet marketing:
Aka having a website the very idea of having a presence on the internet for business reasons is a type of marketing in and of itself. If your business has not got a website address this immediately!
Social media marketing:
Businesses can use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and similar social networks to create impressions on their audience over time.
It is also possible to sponsor content to people who have previously shown an interest in products and services such as yours get in touch to find out more
Blog marketing:
Blogs are no longer exclusive to the individual writer. Brands now publish blogs to write about their industry and nurture the interest of potential customers who browse the internet for information. Blogs can showcase your knowledge in an industry sector or be used to share other information which may be of value to potential customers.
Search engine optimization:
Abbreviated “SEO,” this is the process of optimizing content on a website so that it appears in search engine results such as on Google (do not forget other search engines such as Bing). It is used by marketers to attract people who perform searches that imply they are interested in learning about a particular industry. We would call this being at the top of the sales funnel in the ‘awareness stage’ (I will write more about sales funnels in another blog)
Search engine marketing:
This is a bit different from SEO, which is described above. Businesses can pay a search engine to place links on pages of its index that get high exposure to their audience. (you have probably heard it called “pay-per-click”) These links can be to specific pages of your website, products you wish to promote or even a link to call you. Find out more about Google Ads here or View pricing on my Marketing Packages page
Print marketing:
Yes, I do get involved in print advertising. This could involve adverts in industry related magazines, flyers to distribute through doors or physical mails shots to potential clients.
Email Marketing:
Much like print marketing above, email marketing allows you to target news and offers to an existing client base. Ideal if those clients are likely to repeat purchase or refer you to their friends or family.
Marketing V Advertising
So, to conclude there are many different methods of marketing, only advertising is usually paid. Marketing involves all elements of a product or service from product development and launch to product awareness, branding & customer liaison.
As a small business marketeer, I will get to know your business, your products and services, who your customers are, how they find and interact with your business, what devices they use and even when they sleep!
Hazel