2020 without a doubt has been a very hectic and unpredictable year not only for humanity as a whole, but also for small businesses. While some small businesses were able to weather the storm, others unfortunately couldn't stay afloat. As we near the end of this very particular year, it's important that you start the new year as a strong and thoroughly prepared small business.
At KLA Viral Media, we have put together a checklist of the most important marketing strategies and methods you can apply to your small business in order to start the new year on the right path.
1. Re-evaluate your marketing goals
No matter how long you've been in the business, it is highly important that you look at what you've been doing with your marketing strategy. The goals you set last year might no longer apply to your business, especially under current circumstances.
- Analyze your marketing and sales goals: Typically, most business owners set marketing and sales goals when they establish their business. However, after you're up and running it's easy to get caught up in the madness of day-to-day activities and forget about the important marketing tasks. As you review those goals, come up with a realistic plan to evaluate your marketing strategy on a regular basis going forward.
- Schedule weekly or monthly check-ins: As you work on a plan to evaluate your marketing methods, incorporate check-ins to go over your goals and how your marketing relates to them. Be honest with yourself about what is working and what needs to be adjusted.
- Check out the competition: It is totally ok to scope out your competition and see how they are handling their marketing. Keep an eye out for any strategies they are using that you aren't, find out if it's working for them or not, and make a note of anything that stood out to you and consider adding it to your own marketing plan in the future.
2. Review What You've Done so Far
All the data that you've collected about your business so far is key. Take inventory of your overall marketing strategy and pay attention to the money you are investing and what you're getting back.
You should also review what you spend the most time on when it comes to your marketing, how much money goes into it, and if that one particular marketing tactic you dread doing on the daily really generates the results you'd hope for.
The most effective and productive marketing strategies are the ones that generate substantial results, don't consume too much time, and fit with your current budget. Focus on those main key points and forget about the rest for now.
3. Follow Up
Following up is essential for small businesses. It is also much more productive to follow up with leads you've contacted before than to reach out to new ones that know nothing about you. Try these 3 follow-up ideas to get business moving:
- Reach out to happy clients and see if they'd like to work with you again. Ask for suggestions on what services they'd like to see offered by your business.
- Ask current or past customers for referrals. Referrals have a high conversion rate and close relatively faster.
- Be consistent with your email marketing. Maintaining consistent communication helps you stay top of mind with your network and clients, that way they think about you first when looking for a service.
4. Maximize Customer Testimonials and Reviews
Online reviews about your business is what's going to attract more business. Customer testimonials and reviews are what build up the credibility of your business and services. Make sure to work on your online presence and include any ratings, reviews, and customer testimonials. If you can, go the extra mile and ask some of your best customers to create a video detailing their experience with you.
5. Update Your Online Business Profiles
Just like reviews, your online presence says a lot about your business. Not only should you be on social media, but you should also register your business with Google. That way, whenever someone searches your business you will have a higher chance of coming up on the first page of the search results.
You should also make sure that all the information across all your online platforms matches and contains accurate information. Otherwise, you will risk losing customers to the competition.
6. Use Automation
One of the best tools a small business owner can use is automation. Things like email marketing, social media posts, and online review management are all time consuming but extremely important. Try using platforms like Hootsuite, Later, and Mailchimp to schedule your posts and emails. Make sure to do enough research to find a platform that best suits your needs and what you're looking to accomplish.