Small Business Marketing Ideas to Implement Yourself

Internet marketing professionals can make a big difference with the online marketing for your business. And if you need a referral to one, I know several personally. Just contact me.

But there are plenty of things that you can do yourself, without the help of professionals, to market your business. I'm going to list several of them here.

Marketing Ideas to Do Yourself

Email

First, add the name of your business, the URL of your website--assuming you have one--and your phone number and email address to a signature file that is appended to every email you send. 

No matter what email client you use, you can create a signature file. This makes it super easy for people to contact you and to associate your name with your business name and website.

If you don't have a website (yet) or a business email address, at least use an email address that looks halfway serious. That means no hotmail, and no weird names, like hottoddy@hotmail.com.

Get yourself a plain gmail account with your name or your business name as the part to the left of the @ sign.

Social Media

You know that old philosophical question about if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, did it make a noise? Well, that applies to social media. 

Whether you are on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram, if you have no followers, it doesn't matter how brilliant you are in the execution of your social media strategy because no one will see it.

Before launching any social media campaigns, you have to first get some followers. And the first and easiest way to get some followers is to ask people that you know to follow your business page. If it's a Facebook Business Page, then ask you Facebook friends to like your business page, and provide them with a link to it. Same with the other social media platforms. First ask your friends.

Add this little tidbit to your email signature file that we talked about earlier. Say in your signature file something like, "would you please like our new business page on Facebook?" and provide a link.

Google My Business

This is free service offered by Google, and it makes it easy for people to look up your business or find it if they google certain key words and a location related to your business. Be sure to list yourself on it today.

Business Cards

Some people think business cards are passé, but I think that's hogwash. Get yourself some nice business cards and carry them everywhere. Get a little case to hold them neatly in your bag or briefcase.

Business Networking

Wherever you are, find a local business networking group to belong to. These come in all types and styles and flavors. Usually they allow only one of each type of business. Some are extremely helpful and supportive and will get you referrals.

So, visit a few of them before making a decision. I belong to one here in Courtenay that is fantastic. It's called Momentum Networking.

This is a great way to help a new business get off the ground provided that you actually go to the meetings. My groups meets once a week at 6:30 a.m.--which is not for everyone.

Here are just a few hints to get you started. The first three listed are free, and the last two listed cost something, but not a lot.

Get your business off on the right foot, and don't look back.