With all the marketing options out there, it can be difficult for small businesses to know what the most useful and cost effective strategies are. Marketing is essential for any business to see growth and make the brand stand out across a variety of platforms. Customers need to encounter your brand name several times before it becomes familiar to them so direct marketing is a valuable tool.

Developing a plan is the first step in any marketing effort and involves deciding on the business products and services and how best to convey this to potential clients.

Although it may seem like an expensive outlay at the outset, you need a website to offer information about your business to potential customers. In today’s technology-based world, the first thing a potential customer does is Google the business so make sure the website is mobile-friendly and search engine optimised.

Create local awareness of the business by establishing a network is a useful step. By joining business associations and community groups it is possible to network and is a great way to capture business leads. It allows you to meet new contacts and create more brand awareness and new referrals.

Social media is a good way to market a small business and costs very little. It can reach many potential clients and is a valuable medium to use for special offers and promotions. Competitions where visitors are entered into draw by liking and sharing business pages is an effective way to get your brand name known.