Being in business can be incredibly exciting. When you have a goal and a vision, you’re able to bring it to life. However, at the same time, you may find that it also comes with a lot of decision-making. Learn how to choose the right marketing methods to grow your small business.
And you won’t always know the correct answer for things every single time. This is why you need to weigh up decisions carefully and make a call on what will work best for you.
This can apply to many principles in business, from finance to employee management. However, one area where it can be particularly prevalent is in marketing.
When it comes to marketing, you will always have decisions to make – no matter how hard you try to put them off. So, it does help to have a system that you can turn to for this.
In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at how you can ensure that you’re choosing the right marketing tactics to promote your business and how to go about it. Let’s take a look now.
Table of Contents
Why Does Marketing Matter?
So first of all, you might be wondering why exactly marketing methods matter. Is it not just possible to give everything a try and see how it all works? Well, you could do that – but it could also be a costly and time-consuming option.
Instead, you only want to work with the marketing tactics that are going to get you results and deliver ROI, right? This is precisely why it’s essential to make the right decisions.
Selecting The Right Social Media Marketing Strategy
To begin with, you may want to think about which social media platforms you want to be on. It can be tempting to believe that you need to be on all of them, but not all of them will be right for your business.
Plus, you may find that you spread yourself too thin and end up diluting your message. So, starting with one, building it up, and then adding more is the safest approach.
Considering Advertising At Events
Depending on what industry you’re in, you may find that you want to start advertising at events too. If networking and conferences are big on your agenda, then you need to be able to utilize the proper promotional methods here.
Perhaps you’ve been wondering what a step and repeat is or which banners are the best to pair with it. Bringing in an expert to help you here could be a great way to do it.
Paid Vs. Organic Marketing Methods
The next thing you might consider is whether to opt for paid or organic marketing, or explore other marketing options. Often, this is mainly down to personal preference.
But at the same time, when you’re just starting out, it can be a good idea to stick to organic strategies that are budget-friendly.
Lisa, Small Biz Tipster
Then, as you start to gain traction and achieve ROI, you can consider complementing them with paid options as well.
PR vs. Advertising
Examining another tale of two sides, we encounter the concept of PR versus advertising. Classically, PR was seen as the more organic option, while advertising was paid.
Yet, in some instances, you’d need to pay a PR team for their work on your brand. And this is often what it comes down to. PR can be mainly about getting your brand name out there and raising awareness, whereas advertising can focus more on sales.
Both can be invaluable and complement each other. You may find that using both together gets the best results.
SEO Marketing For Marketing Methods
SEO marketing, short for Search Engine Optimization marketing, is a powerful marketing strategy and plan used to improve a website’s visibility and organic search rankings on search engines like Google.
By optimizing various elements of a website, such as its content, structure, and keywords, SEO marketing aims to attract more targeted traffic and increase the chances of conversion.
By implementing these tactics, businesses can enhance their online presence and reach their target audience more effectively with marketing methods that work.
Today, you also have to consider AEO with AI overviews on search engines being used as organic marketing methods have changed.
Making Marketing Methods Work For You
Ultimately, you’re going to find that this is all about making digital marketing strategies work for you as best as you can. There are a plethora of marketing options available to you, but not all of them are going to work for you.
You’re likely to find that you have the most success with trying out different things. That’s because there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to marketing.
Things that work incredibly well for one business may not for you, and that’s okay.
Marketing Methods Conclusion
As you start to navigate your way through the world of marketing tactics, you’ll begin to formulate a plan of options that are working well for you.
It’s okay to want to add things to that in the future, but it’s always the case that making the right decisions comes over time.
FAQ’s: Choose The Right Marketing Methods For Your Business Now
How do I know which marketing method is right for my business?
Start with your target audience. Where do your customers hang out? If they’re active on Instagram, that’s a strong clue. Think about your budget, your goals (brand awareness, sales, leads), and your personal strengths. Test a few methods and see what brings results.
What’s the difference between digital and traditional marketing?
Digital marketing utilizes online tools such as social media, email, and search engines. Traditional marketing relies on print ads, radio, events, and direct mail.
Do I need to use every marketing channel?
Nope. Stick to the places where your customers spend time. Trying to be everywhere leads to burnout and wasted money. Focus on two or three channels first. Measure what works, then scale up if you want.
How much should I spend on marketing?
There’s no magic number, but a common rule is to set aside about 5-10% of your revenue. New businesses may need to spend more to get noticed. Keep your budget flexible so you can shift money to what’s working best.
Which marketing method brings the fastest results?
Paid ads (like Google Ads or Facebook Ads) tend to work faster than organic methods such as SEO or content marketing. But fast doesn’t always mean better. Paid ads stop when you stop paying. Organic methods take time, but they often yield better returns in the long run.
Is social media enough for my business?
Social media works well for many small businesses, but it’s not magic. You still need a solid website, good customer service, and maybe email marketing. Social channels come and go, but your website and email list are assets you control.
How do I determine if my marketing efforts are Working?
Track actions like website visits, leads, sales, or phone calls. Use tools like Google Analytics or built-in insights on social platforms. Set clear goals before you launch a campaign so you can judge if it’s successful.
How often should I review my marketing strategies?
Check in monthly. Track your results, compare them to your goals, and adjust your plan. If something isn’t bringing results after a few months, it may be time to try something new.
What mistakes should I avoid when picking marketing methods?
*Spreading yourself too thin by trying too many channels
*Ignoring your target audience’s preferences
*Chasing trends without a plan
*Failing to track and measure results
*Keep things simple. Focus on the basics and build from there.
Want more ideas? Explore our marketing tips for small business owners to find what fits your goals and style.
