Hello? Is anyone out there? Gaining new customers starts with a solid marketing strategy. Discover the strategies and processes that go into driving eager customers to your doorstep.
This guide will help you focus on what matters most so you can create a marketing plan that works for your business.
1. Set Your Goals
Before you jump into tactics, define your goals and objectives. What do you want your marketing to achieve — more sales, more leads, greater brand awareness? Write these down and keep them visible as you plan.
2. Start With Strategy
Many small businesses try to appeal to everyone, but success often comes from focusing on a specific niche.
Two key steps to building a strong marketing strategy:
- Narrow your focus to your ideal client.
- Differentiate your business from competitors in a way that matters to that client.
Resources:
3. Define Your Brand
Your brand is more than a logo — it’s the full experience customers have with your business.
Build Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)
What value do you offer that no one else can? Use your ideal client insights to answer this.
Create a Vision Statement
A vision statement describes your desired future in 1–2 sentences. Example: Tesla — “To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”
Design Your Visual Identity
This includes your logo, colour palette, fonts, and any visuals that communicate your brand personality.
DIY tools: Vistaprint, 99designs, Canva, Fiverr, Pixabay
Or, connect with a local graphic designer.
4. Build Your Website
Your website is your digital storefront — a place for customers to learn about you, buy from you, and connect with your brand.
Popular platforms: GoDaddy, Shopify, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, WordPress
Resource: Golden Rules for Your Website
5. Choose Your Marketing Channels
With so many options — from social media to print ads — focus on the channels that best reach your audience. Ask yourself:
- Are you business-to-business or business-to-customer?
- Will you manage marketing yourself or outsource?
- If you were a customer, where would you look first?
Resource: Top Marketing Channels
6. Understand the Marketing Funnel
The marketing funnel is a way to visualize turning strangers into loyal customers:
Know → Like → Trust → Try → Buy
Use it to match your marketing activities to the right stage of the customer journey.
7. Measure, Measure, Measure!
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Set clear objectives and track your results.
- Did web traffic increase?
- Did sales grow?
- Was the return worth the investment?
Resources:
Need Help With Your Marketing Plan?
Business Link’s Strategists can help you identify your ideal clients, choose the right marketing channels, and build a plan that works for your budget and goals.
Contact us today for one-on-one support.
Download this guide:
Different by Design
You are special. You are different. Tell the world how by completing the exercises in this guidebook.
Ideal Client Worksheet
All customers are NOT created equal. Find out how to work with customers you love by uncovering your ideal client profiles.
Marketing Channels
Radio advertising not working for you? Social media feels unfulfilling? There are lots of ways to reach an audience with your message. This guide will inspire you to look for customers in different ways.
12 Golden Rules For Your Website
Oh no! Not another broken website link. Errors, missing pages, and outdated content are only some of the ways you may be losing web traffic. Download this guide to the 12 golden website rules and drive more virtual visitors to your business.