Michael Epps Utley {kind=image/jpg}
There are more options now than ever for advertising. When you’re trying to decide the best steps to take in your small business marketing plan, you have to consider traditional methods, such as TV and billboards, as well as online and SEO marketing. More and more money is being spent on digital marketing campaigns, since so much of us now spend more time on the internet. Is it worth your money to advertise with companies like Yellow Pages and the newer Angie’s List? Here are a few small business marketing tips to help you navigate these resources.
The first question to ask yourself is whether the company has their own directory with traffic. If so, it may be worth considering. In terms of a small business online marketing strategy, a site that has a reputation such as Angie’s List, or others that are similar, may have significant traffic that could lead to more sales for you.
With any advertising package, you can try it on a short term basis. See if it works for your business before committing to a long term deal.
Second, ask yourself if they are selling something that only they have, or are they simply reselling the services of others. For example, Yellow Pages sells Google Paid Search Management. They are simply reselling and it is not a good value. Your better choice for SEO marketing would be to run AdWords in Google.
Lastly, and probably the most valuable, would be to learn from others in your industry. While it is incredibly helpful to use a small business marketing consultant, it is also worth talking to others in your industry. Whether it’s a company similar to yours in another location, or one that is local, see what type of advertising they are using and if it is working for them. Others may have success with Angie’s List or local search engine optimization services. You can save yourself a lot of time and money by doing a little research on your competitors strategies.
