20 Amazing Marketing Ideas for Startups and Small Business

Marketing is an expensive and long-term process, and for small businesses, it emerges as one of the biggest challenges.

However, there is nothing to worry about, because there are so many Digital Marketing ideas for small business and startups.

Here are 20 marketing ideas for a small business that will help them reach their potential audience:

1. The importance of high-quality content:

People often neglect the importance of a great content however it is something that can be really helpful in getting the attention of your potential audience. If you create unique content, it would be even better for your business. It is okay if writing isn’t your cup of tea then you can hire someone to write it for you. Trust me; it will be a great investment.

2. Create effective videos:

Video content is also really resourceful for your company, and it will help in marketing a small business. While it can turn out to be quite an expensive process, it will avail great long-term profit. Besides you can simply hire a film student in lower price and make creative and effective instructional videos.

3. Strengthen your social media platform:

Social media is a great platform for small business marketing so make sure that you utilize this platform to the fullest. Create your business account on big social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+. And if your business is image oriented then you should create your account on Instagram and be updates with latest social media trends.

4. Innovative advertising:

Of course, advertising can get expensive, but there are ways that will help you effectively advertise your business without being heavy in your pocket. With pictures, humorous content and visual assets, you will definitely attract potential customers.

5. Refresh your old data:

If you are tight on budget, you might not be able to hire content writers to write unique content for your blog. So instead of whipping up something new refresh your old content that is already on the website and make it according to latest SEO trend.  There are so many data and statistic available for you on the internet that will help in marketing a small business. Research for data that relates to your business and revamp it. Make sure you highlight the important part of your data and some images and charts.

6. Set yourself on LinkedIn:

LinkedIn Marketing Strategy is one of the under-utilized practices that people often neglect. Don’t just sign in, add connections and sign out; join important groups, communicate with your connections and share the blog posts. There are so many things that are happening on LinkedIn can be great online marketing for small business.

7. Create a customer referral program:

Providing your customers free products, free services for a month, or some reward points for new customers. Word-of-mouth is one of the powerful marketing techniques so if people would see you giving away stuff; they will tell their friends and advertise your product or services.

8. Partnership with industry:

Collaborate with businesses of your own industry (however make sure they are not your direct competitors) or take up a project.  This can easily be executed offline via different event or online through promotional giveaway or webinar.

Teaming up with other related business means you get twice the attention and will be introduced to a whole new potential audience.

9. Attractive business cards:

Your business card says a lot about your business; so make sure you make a savvy business card for yourself. And then, give your business card to everybody you shake hands with. More people get to know about your business, the better chances for you to create a brand for yourself.

10. Organize and host an event:

Plan and host or class, then print flyers for the event and put them on the all the community bulletin boards such as coffee shops, libraries, colleges, etc. while generally community bulletin boards don’t allow you to put business advertisements, they would help you in posting flyers that promote educational program or event.

11. Email Marketing:

A good optimized website along with effective Email marketing is one of the greatest marketing idea for a small business that helps you connect with new visitors to your business along with that it helps you maintain a healthy relationship with your current customers. Get new visitors to sign up to your newsletter by providing them some kind of rewards for subscribing. Keep nurturing your subscriber through email services until they become your customers.

12. Be a part of the local contest:

Team up with local contest event and make your product as a prize of the competition.

13. Create your own Infographics:

Infographics are really great and effective marketing tool that small business can use in their marketing process. Basically, they act as eye candy of your business and more importantly people easily share them with their friends. While hiring a designer can be hard in your pocket, you can do it yourself if you are up for a challenge.

14. Creating online contests:

Sure you will have to have to giveaway free products but your participants will be your potential customer so that it will be all worth. Cannot afford to give away free stuff? You don’t have to give away an expensive prize to attract participants; sometimes little things are enough for users to sign in for the contest.

15. Get business awards online:
    

Generally, industries have business awards that you can also win that gets you a badge that you can put on your business. This kind of badges is helpful in enhancing credibility in return boost the sales. Get yourself one of these awards, if there is any. It will help you in getting a lot of attention and strength your connection.

16. Register for conferences:

When it comes to marketing then various small business conferences provide a fantastic opportunity to create a good network. Meeting various peers, learning new things related to your field, getting knowledge about how others are working upon their start-ups can help you in promoting yourself in a better manner. But yes, don’t forget to research about the event before you go there.

17. Start a Business Blog:

Nowadays, Digital Marketing plays a vital role in the promotion of any business. If you will rank on top on various search engines, then this can be one of the best benefits for your business. Learn about Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing and market your business online.

18. Ask your existing customer reviews:

Want to get more online reviews? Just ask your existing customers. It would really help in online marketing for small business.

19. An effective call to action:

A valuable call to action can make a serious difference in converting your visitors into customers. An effective call to action will be helpful in reducing the risk and promote quick action. You can understand this by the examples of tools like- Evernote, DropBox, Prezi etc that will help you in an effective call-to-action. This makes a great impact on your visitors and results in better conversions.

20. Concentrate on your users:

There are so many choices available for users online. And small business organization aims at offering maximum user experience. So it is imperative for you to concentrate on your users. Your users will stay with you only if you will give quality services to them. Give them reasons so that they become your loyal customers and do not go to any of your competitors.