5 Simple Steps to Get Your Small Business Ahead of the Rest

Meghan Belnap

September 16, 2014

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With the tremendous success of many online marketing campaigns, it seems like everyone is starting a business and trying to become ‘the next big thing’ these days. You already set yourself apart a little bit if you have a physical store and not only an online presence, but there are plenty of other things you can do to stand out and really catch the eye of your consumer. Here are five tricks to getting people to pay attention your business.

1. Use Social Media – The Right Way

Every company now has a Facebook and a Twitter account, but with a smaller business, you have an opportunity to do something not all of them can. You can really connect with your users and be personal with interactions. Set up a Twitter alert for every time someone mentions your product, and respond to them in a way that may provide a lasting relationship. People love feeling like companies are actually listening to them, so you'll make a great impression. Facebook has many campaigns for targeted ads that can laser target your audience so as to bring more sells in.

2. Start a Blog

In the digital age, cultivating an Internet presence is the most effective way to get your name out there. You want to be known as an expert in your field, so start a blog to put that expertise on display. Write about topics that might interest your customers so they will pass your blogs on to other friends.

3. Figure Out Your Edge

It's easier to stand out when you do something your competitors don't. What is your edge? Do you offer lower prices? Better customer service? Higher quality products? Find something you do better than everyone else, and focus on that with all your marketing. Tell other people why they should choose you, not the other brands.

4. Personalize Your Brand

It may sound cheesy, but creating a character to go with your brand is actually an incredibly effective marketing tool. Whether that's you and your employees or a fictional character, it helps make your customers feel like they know you when they see ads featuring that character.

5. Listen to the Customer

With everything in place to draw the customer in, one of the ways you can really stand out as a business is to listen to what they have to say. Do they have feedback? Suggestions how to improve? Requests for specific services? Look into the feasibility of implementing those. When you give customers a say, they feel like they matter to you and are more likely to come back to your business again and again.

Finding the right strategy is different for each business and knowing what is best for your enterprise might take more effort than you think. Consider getting educated with a Kent State University masters in public relations as the information provided will certainly put you ahead of the game. Remember, put a little extra effort into product and marketing, and you'll be surprised how far that goes! Growth for your business may start off slow, but as you build up your reputation, the sky is the limit!