Getting your business off the ground is difficult, but making it work long-term is even harder. As a business owner, there’s a constant need to advertise your business and attract new customers.
There’s no shortage of ways to achieve this goal. The only limitations are your budget and how much time you have to dedicate to marketing.
The good news is that there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to advertise your business. With options like signage, digital marketing and community sponsorships, it’s possible to turn your business into a raging success! In this article we’ll explore how to advertise your business and some of the most effective strategies you can use.
How to Advertise Your Business
1. Invest in Quality Signage
First thing’s first – get your shop or office signage sorted!
You don’t want to make it to opening day without signage. A good sign is your first impression, and you’ll struggle to get customers through the door if all you have is a blank wall.
Remember that signage can take several weeks to produce and install, so you need to get your order in early. In the meantime, you can also install temporary “Opening Soon” signage to let people know that your business is almost ready!
Business signage, window signs and wall decals are an excellent way to make your brand stand out. When it’s done properly, signage can communicate who you are and what you do at a glance. That’s perfect for attracting new customers and catching the attention of passersby.
There is no shortage of business signage options, with a variety of promotional signs available. Whether it’s simple A-frame signs, large-scale wall graphics or illuminated shop signs, every bit of signage helps communicate your brand.
2. Get Listed on Google
Google is hands down the best way to help customers find your business online, especially if you’re a local operator. You don’t even need to invest in SEO – you simply need to create a Google Business Profile.
Google Business Profiles show up in Google Search and Google Maps whenever someone is looking for a business like yours. Your profile allows you to show information like your location, opening hours, business description, products, reviews and more.
Having a Google Business Profile is a no-brainer. It’s free, it’s an effective way to connect with customers, and it can help drive online traffic into your brick and mortar store!
3. Get Active on Social Media
Another excellent free option is social media.
Most social platforms are now pay-to-play. If you want to be really successful, you’ll need to invest in paid advertising. But, if you’re just getting started, all you need to do is get active on your accounts!
Posting regularly about your business, products, services, customers and employees is a good way to reach new people. We recommend posting once per day, but a few posts per week is enough to start with. Just make sure you’re focusing your attention in the right places – figure out which social platforms your customers use and make those your priority.
4. Optimise Your Website for SEO
A Google Business Profile is great for attracting local customers, but it will only get you so far. These days you also need your business to show up in Google’s search results.
The best way to do that is with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). SEO is a marketing discipline that’s all about tweaking your website so that it shows up when customers are searching.
SEO is usually best left to the professionals. It gets complicated very quickly, and you need to put in dedicated effort if you want to see results. In exchange, your website will climb Google’s search rankings, and the higher your brand shows up, the more people you’ll have visiting your website and physical location.
5. Be a Part of Your Community
Advertising is a crowded space. Recent research shows that the average person sees upwards of 4,000 ads per day. Cutting through that noise can be a challenge.
When you want to stand out from the crowd, community involvement is a fantastic way to generate word of mouth advertising. Word of mouth recommendations are trusted by 92% of consumers, so it’s worth taking any opportunity to spread the word.
Taking part in your community could mean sponsoring local sports teams, attending show days and school fetes, or donating time and products to local events.
6. Attend Trade Shows
Want to network with other businesses? Reach new customers? Learn more about business and your industry? Trade shows have it all!
Many industries have a thriving trade show scene. At trade shows, businesses are given a chance to showcase their products and meet customers, suppliers, competitors and industry representatives.
Attending a trade show as a vendor typically costs your business money. That means it’s important to make the right impression. Take your best salespeople, set up high quality signage, and make sure you have samples, flyers and business cards to hand out.
7. Network with Other Businesses
The business community can be one of the most welcoming spaces in the world. If you’re looking for great opportunities to advertise your brand, networking with other businesses can be incredibly useful.
Networking is a key part of being a business owner. You can start by reaching out to similar businesses (or businesses that work in the same industry or area as you) and having a simple conversation. This is a great way to build partnerships that can help you find new customers and improve your supply chain.
8. Turn Your Work Vehicles into Advertising
Signage can make a real impression on customers. But, when your window signs are attached to your shop, your reach is limited to the people in your immediate area.
Vehicle graphics and car window advertising are the answer to this dilemma. Vinyl car decals and wraps can turn your work vehicles into 24/7 signage. The best part is that your vehicles can go anywhere. Whether you’re visiting a customer’s house, picking up orders, or making deliveries across the country, a car wrap or car window stickers can dramatically increase your reach.
9. Offer an Introductory Discount
Getting people to try new products and services is the hardest part of operating a business. Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to help people overcome their hesitance!
Introductory discounts are exactly what they sound like. New customers receive a discount on your product, service or subscription. Lowering your prices slightly is an effective way to increase sales and attract long-term customers. Just be mindful about your profit margins and how you handle the transition to normal pricing.
Take Your Business to the Next Level with Advertising from Signs Brisbane!
Growing your business is a constant battle. Customers will come and go, so you need a steady stream of new faces if you want to achieve your goals. While there are lots of ways to advertise your business, investing in outdoor pr indoor signage, such as window signs from Signs Brisbane are one of the most cost-effective strategies!
Signs Brisbane is a specialist signwriter based in Brisbane. We work with clients across Australia, providing business signage, car signage, illuminated signage and much more. Each of our signage projects is tailored to suit your business. If you’re trying to attract new customers and stand out from the crowd, we can design solutions that help you reach new heights!
Feel free to contact us at any time for more information or to book a consultation.