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.
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.
PR can be especially cost-effective for small businesses. However, you also need to act quickly to manage any bad press. Discover how you can get media coverage online and via the local press.
Content marketing has become a core marketing activity for many businesses. For small businesses, sharing useful content online offers a powerful way to engage with customers - via blogs, case studies and email newsletters.
At the same time, social media is helping new types of content to fly - as videos, infographics and more are all shared via social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Facebook.
Sharing relevant, interesting and valuable content allows your business to build relationships with your customers. By sharing useful information that solves your customers' problems, you can improve your customer service and inspire loyalty and trust.
By providing evidence that you can meet your promises - such as case studies and testimonials - you can also convince prospects to become customers without having to resort to a hard sell.
Today, everyone expects to find the answers to their questions on your website. The right content can demonstrate your expertise, show you understand your customers and their needs, and position you as a leader in your field.
Marketing content works incredibly hard for businesses. It can show your brand values and prove that you're up to date in your field. What's more, it can attract more website visitors, improve your search rankings and widen your reach.
For small firms, content marketing can pose challenges - such as finding your voice or the time to post regular updates whilst running your business. Not everybody is a writer, either - although following a few simple rules will help you get things right.
If you can't fit the time into your schedule or just don't have the writing skills, employing a copywriter could be a good investment.
