Marketing your business

There are many ways to market your business. Let’s look some proven ways to get your message out.

Using marketing to reach your customers

Marketing is a chance to speak to consumers about your brand, products, and services that you offer. Every contact point with a consumer is a marketing opportunity. Your site, store, and business cards are all ways to let customers know what makes your business unique.

Small business advertising

While marketing is speaking to consumers about your business, advertising is paid messaging to increase awareness and boost your sales. Let’s look at some of the common tools used to advertise online and offline.

How to advertise online

Social media channels: Your business’s own social media account can help show off your brand, engage with customers and share information about your products and services for free.

Social media ads: Paid social media ads can help reach more customers by raising awareness and driving traffic to your business.

Pay per click ads (PPC): PPC are ads on internet search engines and other websites. You pay to have your ad appear when certain keywords are searched for and you get charged for each click on your ad.

Cost per impression ads (CPI): With a CPI ad you pay a fee per thousand views your ad gets, whether or not the people who viewed your ad clicked on it.

Cost per action ads (CPA): With CPA ads, you only pay when someone takes a specific action, such as signing up for your email list or buying your product.

Learn more about advertising online

How to advertise offline

Word of mouth: Making connections in the community is still one of the oldest but most reliable forms of advertising. How about a partnership offer with friends or peers that provide a service complementary to yours? Also, check out small business groups in your town. These can be an excellent way to connect to other small business owners.

Business cards: There’s still a place for business cards today. You can use them to connect with potential customers and give them out at events or your place of business. Make sure your card has your business’s name, address and contact information, including your website and social accounts.

Newspapers: If your goal is to attract local customers, then advertising in a neighborhood or small local newspaper can be an effective way to reach your target audience. The price of your print ad will depend greatly on the newspaper's popularity and the size of your ad.

Magazines: A local, regional, or niche interest magazine can help you reach a specialized audience. The price of magazine ads generally depends on the size of the publication and size of the ad itself.

Banners: Posters and banners don’t cost much to make. These can be printed and hung at your place of business or around your community.

Promotions

Offer special deals

A special deal can entice customers to buy. These could be a price markdown, two for the price of one, a free sample with purchase, or a flash, one-day only sale.

Bundle your products

All customers like the idea of getting a deal. Think about ways you could package multiple products or services together to offer a greater value.

Coupons

These can be an inexpensive way to promote your business. They may be email coupons, coupon codes or exclusive invitations (perhaps to that flash sale you’re planning).

Offer free shipping

If you sell your products online, consider offering free shipping for purchases over a certain amount to encourage customers to buy more.

Consider online exclusives

Use an online marketplace and post your exclusive product for potential buyers, including a special discount.

Create a customer referral program

Word of mouth is powerful. Offer existing customers a discount for referring a new customer to you.

Events for small business

The best way to get to know your customers is to get out there and meet them. Holiday pop-ups, local parades and street fairs are terrific ways to sell products, promote your service and get to know potential customers in your community. You can also create your own events. If you run a boutique clothing store, an invite-only shopping event that allows customers to check out the latest arrivals could help increase sales.

A good strategy is to have a clear objective in mind before you plan your event. Track your results, too. Keeping a record of what works and what doesn’t will help you decide what you should focus on.

Social media smarts for small businesses

Social media makes it easy for small businesses to reach a broad range of customers. Get tips and find Visa-recommended partners that can help you with social media now. 

Explore social media for small business