Starting a small business is both exciting and challenging. Not only do you have to produce a product or service that’s unique and credible, but you also have to market your products.
Many business owners enlist a wide range of marketing techniques to create brand awareness and get their products noticed. These include getting staff to wear shirts with the custom embroidery Sydney companies are using to promote their brands.
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Getting Your Business Name Out There
Whether you’re opening a brick-and-mortar store in your local community, running an e-commerce business, or opting for a combination of both, marketing is a key aspect. In addition to optimizing your website, and launching E-mail campaigns, what else can you do to market your new business? We have a few ideas to get you started.
1. Wear the Right Shirts
It’s not uncommon for small business owners to think that a uniform isn’t essential for a startup. This is especially the case if the business only has a few (or maybe only one) employees or is strictly an online business.
Will you and your team be online? Are you going to be having video calls with customers, or even creating demos of how products are working? If yes, then providing your team with company polo shirts adds a sense of professionalism to your business image.
Additionally, if you have a real-life store, your staff, and your brand will look more professional. Keep in mind that staff wearing company shirts are also seen by people all over town. Especially if your staff go out to lunch or use public transport. It’s a very affordable and effective way to get your company name out there.
2. Invest in Freebies and Swag
While there’s an extensive focus on SEO and online marketing as you’re setting up your brand, it’s important to not lose sight of your customers in the process of finding them. Your potential customer doesn’t care about your SEO efforts. They do, however, care about what you’re going to give them for supporting your business.
The way businesses are marketed has changed over the years, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the popularity of freebies and swag. Create a few products with your logo on them that can be handed out as free gifts. Branded merchandise can include the following:
- Laptop or smartphone stickers
- Coffee mugs and water bottles
- T-shirts
- Fridge magnets
- Notepads
- Backpacks
The branded merchandise, or swag as it’s often called, can be made to tie in with your brand. You can give these gifts out with purchases or even at charity events and trade shows. Be sure to include your website address on your swag.
3. Create Gift Cards for the Holidays
A huge frustration around the holidays involves finding the perfect gifts for the various people in your life. You can use this frustration to your company’s advantage. Create gift cards and release them a few months before the holidays and advertise them extensively.
Consider adding a free delivery offer for larger purchase amounts. You can also allow potential customers to use the gift card amount as a discount toward a much larger purchase.
Whether digital or paper, add a link to your website so that a first-time buyer can easily find your business. Prominently advertise your gift cards on your social media pages as well as at any trade shows, markets, or charities that you attend.
4. Create a Weekly Newsletter
It’s also a good idea to create a weekly newsletter. Content can be based on current trends in the industry and how your products or services tie in with this. Highlight current offers without being too salesy. Mention your activities in your community and any links you have with local charities.
Telling different aspects of your brand’s story each week will help customers relate to and also get to know you, your company and your products. You can also choose a specific product to highlight each week. With so many options, you can create interesting content for each newsletter. Use current, potential, and referred customers to create an email base for your newsletters.
5. Attend as Many Local Events as Possible
Whether you’re selling beauty products, or offering a service, it’s important to physically put your brand out there. Attend as many craft fairs, markets, charity, and networking events as possible.
If you’re only offering a service, set up a table with leaflets and business cards that can be given to interested parties. You can create a banner or poster that attracts people to your table. This is also the perfect opportunity to gather email addresses for your newsletter!
Final Thoughts
When you start researching marketing concepts, you may feel overwhelmed. The trick is to start with the basics. Ensure that you are marketing to the people who will be seeing your store, staff, and brand on a daily basis. Work uniforms and branded merchandise are an excellent place to start while you work in the background to boost your online presence!
