The goal of any business is to make profits. The way to do so is by selling as much of your product or service as you can at the highest pricewhile spending as little as possible on providing that product or service. Sounds simple right? Well in theory it is, but how do you get people interested in what you have to offer?
You may be lucky, and your product or service will speak for itself. If this happens, word might spread, and you will be inundated with referrals. Unfortunately, while this can happen, more often than not, it is the responsibility of the business owner to get their product or service in front of potential customers. The way to do this is through advertising or marketing. So, with this in mind, what are the most effective forms of advertising for a business?
Table of Contents
Direct Mail
According to the folk at Full Tilt Direct, those with experience of direct mail advertising know the benefits of using this traditional form of marketing. Particularly useful for small or new businesses, direct mail advertising targets a specific group of people according to demographics that could include location, age, gender, and buying habits. It helps to build brand awareness and is an effective way to introduce your products and services to the market.
Social Media
Social media marketing has become an enormously powerful tool in terms of business advertising. You can use your own page to advertise, or you can pay for advertising through the platform. Your business social media pages need to be relevant and active to take full advantage of this type of advertising. Engaging with your customers helps to improve loyalty and provides a more personal touch, which is important for repeat business.
Pay Per Click Advertising
Pay per click (PPC) advertising is available on many social media sites as well as search engines and is a fantastic way to get your brand in front of a massive audience. You have the choice of setting up a budget with a set amount that you are willing to pay each day. Whenever someone clicks on your advertisement, you will pay a specific amount. When the budget is used up for that day, your adverts will stop showing. PPC advertising is a cost-effective method that can drive sales up when done correctly.
Attend Trade Shows
Taking part in a trade showcould be the perfect way to generate interest in your products or services. With buyers and sellers from a range of industries, new businesses have the opportunity to generate a high return on the cost of attending the show. In addition, there will be a chance to network with other business owners,which can help generate valuable contacts.
Press Advertising
Advertising in local newspapers is still an effective way to get noticed but it can be expensive and, unless you use an attention-grabbing advert, you could be wasting your time and money. Customers will want to know why they should use your products or services and what problem it will solve for them, so use this method to highlight the benefits to the customerrather than the specifics of what the product or service actually does.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a very cost-effective method of advertising (little to no expense), which generates a high return on investment. However, be careful to adhere to laws regarding the sending on unsolicited emails. You need to display a privacy policy and have consent from the recipient before sending any promotional emails. You also need to give customers the ability to opt-out of further communication should they wish.