25 Basic Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

Most small businesses don't have much of a marketing budget. Typically, entrepreneurs don’t even have a lot of extra time to get the word out about their products and services - they're too busy running their business.

It's time to get out of your business and try one or more of these small business marketing strategies to start promoting your business.

1. Define Your Competition - This is the best way to make sure what you offer is different from your rivals in the same market. Doing a little research is invaluable.

2. Develop a Call to Action - Tell people exactly what you want them to do when they visit your site. The right Call To Action (CTA) coverts visitors to sales.

3. Optimize Your Content - Keywords attract clients. They need to be placed in strategic locations in the text on your website. Make sure they are topics/words your customers are searching for.

4. Write a Blog - Educate your customers and prospects while you can share specials and planned events on your blog. These are a great way to market in your own voice.

5. Create an Email Campaign - Putting together an email marketing campaign gets you out in front of your target audience. Everyone on your list will see your email message in their inbox.

6. Advertise Online - Facebook Ads and Google Ads work great. These are cheaper than print, television, and radio and they appeal to a wider audience.

7. Start Tweeting - Social media is free and it's one of the best basic marketing strategies available. Posting on Twitter helps you to engage with your target market.

8. Use Facebook Ads - These help you to get out in front of a big audience. You can target your ads to a specific market for optimal effect.

9. Give Stuff Away - Free access to a report or blog is a value-added way to turn visitors into clients. Whether you’re online or in a brick and mortar store, free stuff attracts customers.

10. Drop Your Price - If your competition is close in price to your product, dropping those numbers can increase your volume in sales and give you an advantage.

11. Review Your Brand - Take the time to research who’s buying your goods and services, then direct your branding efforts to language and visuals that they want.

12. Test Campaigns - Social media is a great place to monitor campaign results. Look at reactions to a Facebook page that’s linked to your latest campaign.

13. Create a Newsletter - Newsletters are a quick and easy way to keep your mailing list up-to-date about new products and services.

14. Include Images - These capture your reader’s attention and need to be included in posts and any website content you use for marketing.

15. Run Contests - Engaging prospects is a great way to turn them into clients. A quiz, game, or contest will grab the interest of visitors so you can get them on a mailing list.

16. Write Industry Articles - Establishing yourself as an expert in your industry is one of the best basic marketing strategies. Writing a series of articles for a trade publication positions you as an expert and these can be serialized as blog posts for optimal effect.

17. Join a Local Chamber of Commerce - This is a great way to network and meet potential new customers and business partners.

18. Create a Podcast - Getting out in front of an audience by using your voice adds the personal touch that can make a sale. If you’re stuck at first you can start by just reading out your blog posts.

19. Organize a Webinar - Webinars are a great way to personalize basic marketing strategies. A webinar that details how your product works is a great idea.

20. Launch your Website - Regardless of the goods or services you’re selling, having a Website is a necessity.

21. Issue Press Releases - Whether you want to get the word out on events or new products, press releases work great. Make sure the topics are newsy and not too advertorial.

22. Broadcast on YouTube - Video should be part of any basic marketing strategy. Make an instructional video and place it on your Website to win over prospects.

23. Use Integrated Marketing - Leverage a live event by announcing it on social media. A live feed increases your exposure.

24. Limit Some Offers - The best basic marketing strategies can be traditional.  A limited time offer ramps up the scarcity of your goods and services.

25. Stress Customer Service - Give the people what they want. Emphasizing customer service creates a great reputation and buzz around your products/services.