Small Biz in A Digital Age: Advertising

Small Biz in A Digital Age: Advertising

The world of business is moving faster -- hyper fast. Small businesses face the challenge of trying to keep up and innovate their business to create an advantage.

This week, GoLocal brings you a guide to understanding and managing advertising solutions to help small brands get the exposure they need to get ahead. 

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Advertising 

Small businesses can spend anywhere from 1 - 10 percent of their gross income on advertising according to The U.S. Small Business Association. How much of this income gets spent and how effective it can be to your business can take some trial and error. 

The revenue to be gained from advertising is entirely based on the time, effort, and message that a small business can give to a marketing campaign. But, how can you choose the solution that's right for you?

Advertising solutions can only work for your when it can reach your target market, so it's best to do some digging and figure out how customers hear about your business and what interests them. 

Selecting Your Vehicle

In order to decide on what marketing vehicle is right for you (i.e.. radio, television, web) figure out how and where your customers have found out about your business.

"You don’t have to think big when it comes to your marketing efforts," says Susan Solovic of Constant Contact. "Think locally. What’s going on in your community? Sponsor a Little League team or a 5k charity walk/run.

Print bookmarks and leave them at the local library. Get to know your ideal customer and think about how and where they spend their time. Then search for opportunities to get in front of your customer with your marketing message."

Do they often listen to a morning talk show? Are they active on social media? Simple questions like these will help you to figure out the best way to get in touch with potential clients. 

Social Media

As an advertiser, it's important not to underestimate the power of social media. "70 percent of U.S. households now use the Internet when shopping locally for products and services," says LocalVox. But a resounding 72% of marketers do not understand how to incorporate it into an effective tool for marketing. 

Take into account all the tools you do have at your disposal; advertising is an ongoing process, and there are a variety of ways to get in front of your customers.