As a small-business owner, your goal is to build your company’s reputation and establish your brand with a target audience interested in the kind of products or services you sell.

How do you do this? The only effective way is through marketing. Even if people are demanding the types of products or services that you’re offering, it won’t matter if they don’t know your company exists.

You need to develop effective marketing strategies that reach your target audience and draws them to your business, whether it’s online or on the street.

Marketing is also why many businesses fail. Entrepreneurs can be overwhelmed by the cost of marketing, thinking they’ll need to pay thousands of dollars for commercials and advertisements.

Fortunately, there are many less expensive and more effective ways to advertise your small business. You just need to have the right strategies in place.

Check out these 10 simple marketing strategies for small business:

1.  Websites

Every small business needs to have a website. Even if your business is a brick and mortar storefront, a website can still attract new customers.

Most people search for businesses on the internet, whether they are based locally or online. If someone wants to research stores that sell your type of products, it would be beneficial to your business to have a presence on the internet.

2. Local Online Directories

Many local small-business owners do not take advantage of the local directory listing opportunities that are available online.

For instance, you can go to Google My Business or Bing Places for Business and list your business on them for free. Then, customers can access aerial maps and driving directions to find your business’ location.

3. Vehicle Signage

Car wraps and vehicle signage are vinyl wraps and appliques with advertisements printed on them that you place on your vehicle. The design can wrap around the entire outside of your vehicle, including the doors, hood and trunk.

Basically, a car wrap will turn your vehicle into a mobile billboard. Every time you drive your vehicle, you will be advertising your business.

4. Newsletters

Set up a newsletter and place the subscription box on your website. As people visit your website and sign up for your newsletter, they are creating a list of potential buyers that you can convert into customers.

With your list, you can periodically send electronic newsletters that advertise new products and updates regarding your business.

5. Business Cards

Every business person needs to have business cards readily available. You never know when you’re going to talk to someone who may be interested in your business or the products and services you sell.

You can also post your business cards on bulletin boards in grocery stores, diners, gyms and other local establishments. And, if you happen to sell products that you ship to customers, you can include a business card with the shipment.

6. Social Media

There are more than 1 billion people around the world using social media, which happens to be a totally free way to advertise your business and gain a following.

You can utilise Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram to make connections and build a target audience. Link your social media accounts to your website so that you can drive traffic from one to the other.

7. Press Releases

You will find a lot of press release publication services on the internet. Press releases are a great way to announce some news about your business on news websites, cable television stations, local newspapers, magazines and so on.

Publishing a press release will cost you some money, but it will be a worthwhile investment if you properly target your audience.

8. Rewards

Try offering customers some type of reward for their purchases. For instance, you could create a points system where they earn points each time they make a purchase.

Then, after they save a certain number of points, they can spend them on a product or service sold by your business. The goal will offer customers incentives to repeat their business with you.

9. Pay-Per-Click Ads

Google Adwords, Bing Ads and Facebook Ads are all great ways to drive traffic quickly to a small business’ website.

When placing pay-per-click ads, you will be bidding on search keywords and then paying each time a user clicks on the link to your website. You can set your daily budget on this, so you won’t overspend.

10. Craigslist

Craigslist is the No. 1 online classified ads website. It is divided into local web pages, so you can post your business’ advertisements to your town or city’s local Craigslist webpage. It’s an easy way to get free traffic to your website and your local storefront.

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