10 Cost Effective Ways to Promote Your Small Business

National Small Business Week is April 29 - May 5, 2018. At Zab, we work with dozens of small businesses working hard to grow their businesses. Here are ten cost effective ways to promote your small business within your local community and nationwide. 

Consistent Email Marketing
When used correctly, email marketing can be one of the most beneficial tools for your small business. It’s affordable (or sometimes even free), it helps you stay in contact with your audience, and it makes it easy for your clients to engage with you and your business. For most businesses, connecting with your audience on a monthly basis is sufficient. Make sure you create a way for people to opt-in to your list, it can even be in person with a sign up sheet at your store or event.

Blogging
Blogging is commonly misunderstood in the world of small businesses. We hear it all the time, "oh, I don't want a blog." Sure... but you NEED a blog. Blogging is no longer just  a way to share personal stories or recipes with friends and family. It can become a crucial element to building your small business success (and your email list). Most importantly, blogging is the most effective SEO tool to drive more traffic to your website. Additionally, blogs are a great resource of information for your current or potential customers. Generally, the more a person knows about your business, the more trust they will have for the products or services you offer. (That's why YOU are here after all!)

Social Media Marketing
If you own a small business, operating some form of social media is critical for your growth. With ever-changing algorithms and trends, social media marketing can be a tough thing to figure out, but when used consistently, can aid your success. 91% of brands are using more than one social media platform. Your competition is getting social, you should too.

Make a Great Website
71% of small businesses operate a website. Without a website, you’re missing out on opportunities for potential customers to discover your business. The world of websites can be difficult to understand. While having no website can lead to a loss in business, having a bad website is worse. Having a professional, functional website can engage potential customers and gain their trust in your business. (This is something we're pretty good at creating, check out our websites.)

Teach a Workshop
Planning a workshop can help to spread the word about your small business within your community. It’s a great way to help share your knowledge with your target audience to convert them to potential customers. It can also help you develop strong relationships and strengthen your leadership and communication skills.

Plan Your Days and Create a Goal
Whether you plan your days or not can make or break your success. The common quote “if one fails to plan, one plans to fail” rings true for small business owners. Planning gives us a clear perspective of what needs to be done, what goals are to be achieved, and what amount of time will be spent on completing those goals. This promotes efficiency, productivity and mindset streamlined towards success.

Host an Open House
Hosting an open house or an event is a great opportunity to get people interested about your business and the products or services you offer. To plan a successful open house, make sure you pick your date carefully and have a compelling plan to get potential customers through the door. It also never hurts to have food available!

Write Handwritten Notes to Clients
Handwritten, personal notes will never go out of style. While you’re busy engaging with new customers, its also important to nurture your relationship with current clients. Simple things like a handwritten thank you card or invitation are growing rarer and rarer by the day. Implementing these into your business can help you to stand out from the crowd.

Get Involved In Your Community
Getting involved in your community (whether big or small) can hugely impact your business. Giving back to your community during times of need will help you build customer loyalty. Community involvement for your small business is a situation where everyone wins. Get involved in a non-profit organization or stand up for a cause. 

Share Your Expertise
If you have something that makes you stand out, share it in the comments below! We all learn from each other.