Reach out to us to see
how we can help
We believe in the power of new ideas, and we’re ready
to share yours with the world.
So, you've come up with an amazing idea, brought it to life, and even handled all the paperwork? Congratulations on kickstarting your new business! However, we recognize that this achievement is just the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey. With over 30 million small businesses in the United States alone, it's only natural to wonder how you can make a name for yourself in a crowded marketplace. you may be wondering how to stand out from the crowd. How can you gain traction and rise above competitors?
While there is no foolproof success formula nor a one-size-fits-all approach, there are many strategies that small businesses can utilize to gain traction. Don’t waste time trying to discover the secrets or shortcuts to success. In reality, taking your business to the next level requires taking action—particularly, strategic action. From digital methods to hands-on approaches, there are a variety of small business growth strategies you can utilize. Educating yourself on different methods is the first step and taking action is the next. Explore these seven strategies to discover how your business can bloom with a deliberate game plan and the right movement.
Depending on the business type, some techniques may be more effective than others. Choosing what is worth putting your company’s energy toward is crucial. Keep your target market and business type in mind when deciding which strategies to utilize. Whether you’re just getting started or want to take your business to the next level, these strategies can help you rise above the rest. Let’s dive in.
We’re in an age so focused on social media to connect with customers that many have overlooked one of the strongest promotional tools—email marketing. It is one of the best low-cost ways to grow your customer base and increase revenue. Email marketing has a higher ROI than any other channel, with a $36 return for every dollar spent. It’s so effective that 50% of people purchase products from marketing emails at least once per month. Unlike social media, this tool doesn’t rely on algorithms. Your content is sent directly to the subscribers’ inboxes, where they’re more likely to see it than on social media. More than half of the world uses email and 99% of those people check their inboxes daily. While social platforms attract a younger crowd, email is widely used across all generations. Because it can be easily distributed, it’s a cost-effective way to reach a large audience.
Consistency is key in email marketing to build brand awareness; the more someone sees your brand, the more they will trust it and consider making a purchase. Creating a newsletter that goes out consistently, such as weekly or bi-weekly, can be an effective way to connect with your target market and drive sales. You can utilize newsletters to promote new products or services, announce sales, and provide exclusive discounts to subscribers. Additionally, you can build credibility and provide value to your subscribers by including relevant educational information, such as facts about your products or articles about the industry. It can also drive traffic to your website or social media pages, which can help increase visibility and attract new customers.
Having a blog can be a valuable tool for small businesses to grow their customer base and increase revenue. A well-maintained blog can help establish your business as an expert in the field, building trust with your audience and attracting new customers. One of the primary benefits of having a blog is the ability to improve search engine optimization (SEO) and increase visibility online. By regularly publishing relevant, high-quality content, your business can improve its search engine rankings allowing potential customers to find you online easier. Additionally, a blog can drive traffic to other pages on your website, like your online shop.
You can use blogs to share news and educate viewers, as well as promote new products, services, sales, and events. It’s also the perfect spot to place calls to action and contact forms, promoting growth in other areas, such as your newsletter and social media accounts. Blogs can also be used to engage with customers and build a community around your brand. By providing helpful and relevant information, you can grow a sense of connection and trust with your audience. In addition to educational articles, provide content based on the culture of your industry. Showing your involvement and awareness of the community you’re serving goes a long way when building a positive reputation.
Building a blog is easier now than ever, even if you aren’t much of a writer or know next to nothing about SEO. You can hire freelance writers or marketing agencies to create content for your blog. Find freelancers to write your articles on sites like Upwork, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or, better yet, work with agencies like KL West Marketing & Co that specialize in SEO and content marketing for small businesses.
Social media is a vital tool for small businesses looking to grow and connect with their customer base. From establishing a consistent voice and aesthetic to organic promotion and running targeted ads, small businesses can effectively utilize social media to raise brand awareness, attract new customers, and build community. You can connect with potential customers based on demographics, interests, and behaviors through social media, making reaching the right people easier. However, choosing the right platform(s) to focus on based on your target market and using them effectively is essential. Don’t throw all your eggs in one basket, but don’t stretch yourself too thin, either. It is wise to have accounts set up on every popular social media platform, but put the majority of your focus on just one or two. Make sure to keep your voice and aesthetic consistent across all platforms to increase brand recognition.
Focus on the platform(s) where your target market is most active. For example, if your business targets young adults focus on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. If you’re targeting older adults, focus on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. If your target market includes gamers, try Twitch and Reddit. If your business appeals to writers, utilize Twitter. Regularly post relevant, high-quality content that’s consistent with your brand. Utilize features such as stories, polls, live streams, comments, and direct messaging to engage with customers. You can also run promotions and giveaways to increase engagement. Regularly engaging with your followers on social media can create a sense of loyalty and community among your customer base.
Having a professionally-designed and well-functioning website is crucial for the success of most modern businesses. Slow, outdated websites won’t cut it anymore. People’s attention spans are shorter, and their expectations are higher. By improving your website, you can increase its effectiveness, in turn, driving more traffic and conversions. There are many ways to improve your website, but a key area to focus on is the design and layout. A clean, modern design that is easy to navigate can make a big difference in how visitors interact with the site. Concurrently, matching the design to the vibe of your brand is equally as important, as well as having quality copy sitewide. Make sure your design, layout, and text are mobile-friendly, as 92% of internet users access it through their smartphone or tablet.
Another critical area to improve is your website’s speed. Attention spans are shorter than ever. A slow-loading website can be irritating for visitors and steer them away. It can also negatively impact how well you rank on search engines. Some ways to speed up a website include optimizing images, minifying code, and using a Content Delivery Network (CDN). Optimizing your website’s content, structure, and speed can increase your search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to the site. SEO is a crucial aspect of website improvement; without optimizing for search engines, your website may never be found organically. Incorporate keywords into the website's content and meta tags, and make sure the site is structured properly with appropriate headings and alt tags.
As mentioned earlier, community involvement and support can help your company establish a positive reputation and attract more customers. Though mega-corporations like Amazon and Walmart have become an increasingly popular way to shop, 62% of people actually prefer buying from small businesses. It can be hard to shine through the convenience of large chains, but if your community knows you’re there, chances are, they will support you. It’s a two-way street; support your community and see it reciprocated.
Depending on the type of business, you can get involved with your community locally, virtually, or both. Supporting your local community can include throwing and participating in events, sponsoring sports teams and schools, hosting fundraisers, and donating to charities and non-profit organizations. If getting involved virtually makes more sense for your business, try sponsoring live streams, talking on online panels, and engaging with your community on social media platforms.
You can also get involved with your local community by participating in networking events and politics. This will allow you to connect with other local businesses and community leaders, which can lead to new business opportunities and collaborations.
It’s all about the buzz, as a publicist would say. Publicity is the process of gaining media coverage for a business or product without paying for advertising. It’s an effective way to increase visibility and enhance the outside’s perception of your company. While your company may just be getting off the ground, the right publicity can help build the credibility and image you need to attract customers. Publicity can come in the form of news articles, television or radio segments, social media coverage, podcast interviews, brand collaborations, and much more. Through these mediums, you can share your company’s story and how you differentiate from competitors.
If you can afford it, hiring a publicist or PR agency can be very beneficial. These professionals have the experience and contacts to help businesses get their stories in front of the right people. Although, it is possible to be your own publicist with enough determination and time. You must first develop a clear and compelling story around your brand. What sets you apart? Why should anyone be interested in you? This story should be tailored to your target audience and highlight the unique features of the business or product. If you hire a publicist, they will craft this with you. If you’re doing it yourself, reach out to relevant media outlets and pitch your story. This is best done by sending a press release or pitch to the publication’s editor via email.
Expanding your team with more employees can be an excellent way for your small business to gain more traction and flourish. By bringing on additional team members, you can leverage new skills and perspectives to increase productivity, potentially leading to more opportunities and development. Hiring employees can be expensive for a small business, so hiring freelancers is a great place to start. Freelancers can bring a wide range of skills and expertise to your small business, such as marketing, graphic design, writing, and programming. They can be a flexible and cost-effective way to increase your business's capacity and get work done that you’re incapable of. By hiring freelancers, your business can complete more work efficiently, which can lead to increased revenue and growth.
Earlier, we mentioned hiring a publicist and; even more importantly, hiring a marketer or marketing agency. Marketers help businesses develop and implement effective marketing strategies that can increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales. They can help identify your business’s target audience and create content that resonates with them. Typically, the ROI of “good” marketing is $5 profit for every dollar spent, so hiring an in-house marketer would be worth it. But if you can’t yet afford a full-time marketer, start at a smaller scale by hiring freelancers or marketing agencies like KL West Marketing & Co.
In addition to freelancers and marketers, your small business can benefit significantly from hiring actual employees if you can afford it. Depending on your business type, consider salespeople, customer service representatives, and administrative staff. These employees can help your small business increase its capacity for customer support, sales, and other operational functions. This can increase customer satisfaction and sales. Ultimately, it will lead to further growth and allow your business to scale.
There are many strategies small businesses can utilize to gain traction and stand out from the competition. From digital methods like email marketing and social media to hands-on approaches like networking and hosting events, there are a variety of ways to take your business to the next level. It’s important to remember that success doesn’t come from taking shortcuts or cracking a secret code, but from taking strategic action. Identify effective techniques for your business and target market; stick to your game plan and see your small business bloom.
We believe in the power of new ideas, and we’re ready
to share yours with the world.