The excitement is real, and the nerves have kicked in – you have started your own business! But what happens next?

Making people aware of your enterprise is the next logical step in the process. After all, if people don’t know who you are, then how can they buy your products, right?

The right messaging communicates your products or services to your ideal customers, but certain marketing strategies are better than others. No matter how well you know your business, you can’t expect to know every marketing secret that will propel you ahead of the competition. 

This is where marketing consulting comes in. 

If you are looking for the most effective ways to market your small business, keep reading. This article will review some small business marketing tips to help you develop marketing strategies.

Do I Need a Marketing Consultant?

Hiring marketing consultants may be the answer to your concerns if you’re having a hard time figuring out how to advertise your small business. They will be better versed in the areas and tools that will work for your niche. 

They can help you in a few key marketing areas such as:

• Finding your ideal audience
• Focusing on key goals and objectives
• Understanding existing customers
• The art of promoting yourself using social media 
• How to invest most effectively in advertising 

Some have chosen to employ freelance marketing consultants to give them the boost they need and get them onto the coveted front page of search engines.

Business marketing is not complicated … when you know what you are doing. When you are new to business, or if you feel that your company needs a marketing boost, you should consult a professional. 

Inbound vs. Outbound Marketing

When exploring how to advertise a small business, it’s a smart idea to understand the difference between inbound marketing vs. outbound marketing. 

Basically, inbound is pull, and outbound is push. But what does this mean? And is one better than the other? 

Small business marketing the right way is a key element to getting your business name out there. If you are too pushy, you can scare away customers. If you are not pushy enough, they forget about you!

Outbound Marketing

Outbound marketing is becoming a less effective and popular way of marketing, especially over the last few years. This has been put down to two reasons: cost and daily interruptions! 

Examples of outbound marketing are cold calling and trade shows or seminars. These are expensive for the business, and there is no guarantee that any new business will come from them.

Inbound Marketing

Inbound marketing is a more subtle way of getting customers to look for you. It includes making use of social media platforms and online content to spread brand awareness. 

Offer information that is attractive and draws the customer to your website. Once you have their attention, then you can engage with them by offering them excellent service and advice.

Marketing Consulting 

If you have no prior marketing experience, all of this can be a little overwhelming. It is always helpful to have someone to guide you, especially when you’re starting out. 

Marketing consulting is an easy way to get the best out of your small business. Working with a team that understands marketing will enable you to develop an effective strategy from the beginning, rather than relying on trial and error.

If you enjoyed learning about small business marketing, please have a look around our blog to see what other topics catch your attention. 

Jane