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How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

Five ways to make your business more visible to customers

Making your business stand out is one of the toughest tasks facing today's companies. As more competing brands emerge in virtually every industry, it can feel almost impossible to position yourself as the best option for your ideal customer or audience.

Ensuring your business is as visible as possible improves your brand reach, increases your potential for website traffic, and transforms your revenue. The more people can see your company and brand, the more likely they are to interact with you.

So, where do you begin? There are a few great options available, depending on the type of business you run, and your target customer.

Boost your online presence

First, to be truly visible in today's digital world, you first need a strong online presence. Virtually every customer, whether they're looking for insurance or clothing, will start their search with a site like Google. This means you not only need an attractive website, but you also need an SEO strategy to help you stand out on the search engine result pages.

Begin by building a website that shows you understand brand activation and showcases everything your customer needs to know about your brand. Make sure it tells your audience the story of your business, why they should trust you, and what kinds of services and products you have to offer. Next, build a blog into your website so you can start improving your chances of ranking for keywords your audience members are searching for. The more quality content you create, the more your traffic will grow.

Use a branded fleet

If your company uses vehicles on a regular basis, whether it's to attend client appointments, or to deliver goods from one place to the next, you already have a phenomenal tool for visibility in the palm of your hands. You can place your logo and other branded elements on the sides of your cars and vans and ensure everyone has a chance to see your name.

However, before you start customizing your vehicles, you'll need to make sure you're purchasing the right ones. Taking the time to choose the ideal vehicles for your company will improve your reputation and your appearance. Plus, choosing the right commercial vehicles also means you can boost your employee productivity and performance. You might even be able to reduce costs by choosing more fuel-efficient vehicles, those with lower rates of vehicle tax or those that are exempt from additional charges such as Ultra-Low Emission Zone charges.

Use social media

While social media can be difficult to master at first, it's impossible to ignore the impact it has on your visibility. If you can position yourself on the channels and platforms your customers are already using, you're almost guaranteed to grab their attention. This is particularly true if you commit to creating high-quality, engaging content, in several different formats.

First, start by finding out which platforms your customers use on a regular basis. You don't necessarily need to use every channel there is to stand out. Secondly, make sure you're creating content targeted to your ideal audience . Think about what they most want to see from you and start there.

Monitor your analytics within your social media platform to determine which of your posts drive the most engagement and attention back to your website. Follow a social media profile checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything critical when setting up your profile on the various platforms available.

Invest in your offline presence

Although it's important to have a strong online presence in today's digital world, many companies will benefit from having a good image offline too. If you run a business which has its own physical store or office, think about how you can brand that real estate to make your company really stand out. What kind of uniforms will your employees wear, and what sort of signage will you be using?

Even the position of your real estate can make all the difference. It's always best to have an office or store in a high-traffic area that's easy to get to. Don't forget to think about other ways of connecting with people offline too. Hosting and attending events can be an excellent way to connect with new customers and partners. You might even get some press media coverage for some of your events from local and online publications too.

Work on your visibility

Improving your visibility is the first step to increasing your profits and unlocking new opportunities. After all, if your customers can't find you, then they can't fall in love with your company or your brand. Using the steps above, you'll be able to position yourself in front of your audience in no time.

Copyright 2023. Article was made possible by site supporter Drew Allen.

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