SMALL business owners have been faced with a series of difficult decisions in 2020, many of which are completely out of their control. We’ve gone through lockdowns and various different tiered levels of restrictions, and business owners have had to deal with the responsibility of furloughing some, if not all, of their staff, and there’s the added looming uncertainty of how Brexit will impact every single sector.
But it’s important not to get downhearted. For small businesses, there are several steps that you can take to make sure that locked down does not mean locked out, to boost your visibility online with express marketing and social media, and to keep getting the word out that you are open for business. Here are just a few.
Stay social
Setting up a social media profile is often one of the first ports of call when a small business opens, a kind of reflex because hey, everyone needs a Twitter profile these days, right? It’s also one of the easiest things to let slide as other more pressing practical concerns can often swamp those resources that you’d normally devote to it. Now, especially as we head into the holidays, is the perfect time to put a bit more time and care into your social media presence. Connect with other local businesses, find your neighbourhood groups and let people know that you’re still out there. Show off the fact that you’re not a faceless, personality free megastore and don’t be afraid of asking for help if you need it.
Invest in small business marketing
The fact is that with more people shopping online, things are getting a lot more competitive. Just as you need to fine tune your social media, you also need to take a much closer look at what your website is doing and how it can work better for you. Whether that’s checking that your SEO is optimised, where you stand in the Google rankings or thinking about whether you need pay monthly web design, the fact is that visibility and accessibility is paramount. If you’re looking for affordable marketing services, Zesty Marketing Agency offers options for everything from social and SEO to ads with award-winning results. They can also create a website for you if you’re starting from scratch.
Stay local
This ties into the point about strengthening your social media presence, but with everyone staying home more and looking to travel less, those “near me” searches are not going anywhere. Amazon profits may be booming but people want to support their local businesses and will go out of their way to help if they can, and if they see the messaging. In addition to boosting your social media presence, consider whether a partnership with another local business is something you could explore to make the most of your resources, and don’t be afraid to hammer the messaging: if locals like having you around, this the time for them to show it.
