Since my business is all about helping entrepreneurs get their business off the ground (pun intended;), I often hear this “now that I have a sign up, what else do you recommend?” Marketing your business is the most important aspect of your business growth, in my opinion. Yes, you must have a quality product or at least a product that people value and good customer service if your local community is your target market, but if people don’t know about you, it’s going to be a long winter.  So I always encourage business owners to do two things:

1. Create a marketing strategy (this can be really complicated or it can be quite easy)

   • Identify WHO your target market or ideal buyers are and how they get informed

   • Determine where they live or how you’ll reach out to them

2. Select a strategy or several strategies to reach them in the first year. Have a marketing budget!

   • Print - Direct Mailings like post cards, Newspaper/Magazine ads, vehicle graphics

   • Technology – Website, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Business Listings

   • Events – set up a booth, sponsor an organization, join a Chamber and business networking

Running a business is not easy, or everyone would do it! You will get overwhelmed with the number of things that must be done. Most business owners I talk to short cut or completely neglect the marketing side. They assume word of mouth support and having a website is sufficient. It is not.  I encourage you to set aside some time to create a marketing plan for 2020 and then spend 1 hour a week following up and getting it done. Your business will grow because of it.