Marketing of business is very important; it’s likely that you’ll be looking to find activities in which to spend your advertising budget in order to generate more business. It’s easy to stick to the same media each year such as magazine ads and printed brochures, but there are more ways to spread the word and increase sales. Digital marketing is becoming more important than ever, but I still think a good mix of new and traditional advertising is the most effective mix. So if you need a few new ideas for your marketing plan, why not consider some of the ways that I advertise my business?

Search engine optimization

If you don’t currently have a budget for search engine optimization (SEO) this should be something you consider. A good SEO strategy can help you appear more prominently in the search engines for both branded terms and those that are related to the services you offer. Clicks through to your website can lead to inquiries and sales, so it is a very effective method of advertising. You will need to employ a specialist or hire an external SEO agency to do the SEO work and you will need to make sure that the strategy is well thought out and doesn’t go against the terms of Google at all. There are so many SEO tools available online that you can also use for your business.

Social media

Another good way to advertise online is through social media. Websites such as Twitter and Facebook allow you to go where your customers are and interact with them. You can hold competitions, share important news, and deal with specific customer inquiries all over the internet. Customers often like using social media as it is less time consuming than calling up and being put on hold, and they are also able to be brand advocates to all of their friends if they like what you do.

Exhibitions & events

Don’t forget about offline advertising though. We try and do two exhibitions or events each year and prefer to use shell scheme exhibition stands due to the convenience and cost. Of course, there are plenty of options depending on the venue and your budget, so you may need a simple pop up banner, or you may want a full custom built a stand. If you aren’t aware of events in your sector, ask people in the industry or try a search online. Whilst you’re at the event, see if you can hold a seminar session so you can share your knowledge and insights with the industry.

Email marketing

If you book yourself space at an exhibition, you’ll want to let people know you’ll be there. Email marketing is a good way to reinforce your brand and your offerings to new and old customers, as well as potential clients. Aside from sending news, you can also send out exclusive offers to those who are signed up to receive email newsletters. If you’re starting from scratch, you might look at buying a data list from a trusted company, and you might also want to get a professional email template designed give the best effect.