Whilst you may have the most successful idea for your company, if you don’t promote your business, no-one will know about it. It’s just like breakfast: it’s no good making toast if you have no butter in the fridge!
There are so many ways to expand your business and its profile in the wider community (some seem so simple, yet some forget to exploit them.) Most, if not all, are invaluable, but more importantly, completely free, ensuring your company can gain the recognition it deserves without breaking the bank.
Of course, it’s slightly easier with a larger team behind you, but even one-man corporations can succeed by raising the profile. It all depends on what kind of audience you are hoping to attract relative to the field you work in, but these are some handy, bite size ideas that can easily improve your credibility and make you stand out in the local community.
For starters, the most obvious option is immersing yourself in the world of social media. Now, as dangerous as it sounds, I promise it does wonders for the soul… and the business! By creating pages for your company on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, prospective clients can be introduced to you and your product in a friendly way without any pressure.
Putting your business onto social media sites is a little bit like online dating; it’s going to be daunting and there are going to be some people who aren’t interested, but you’ll end up certainly reaping the rewards!
Paying for your company’s advertising has to be a consideration; this could be anything from promoting yourselves on Facebook (which as we found out, can be very dear to the piggy bank…) to getting an ad in the yellow pages. Whilst it may seem fruitless, everything from contractors to fashion designers are shown in their best light, and a fool proof way of attracting clients.
Even something as simple as getting someone in the company to write an article about an achievement or milestone that you have accomplished – like the business reaching its 50th year – can work wonders. Sending it to local newspapers means that any person in the surrounding area can read about it and remember the company (and its history!)
Associating your business with local charities also shows that there is compassion and a willingness to get involved. It could be as simple as promoting their fundraising events on social media sites, to the extremes of members of the company running a marathon for cancer research. It depends on how much you want to throw yourself into it!
But the most important rule to all of these expanding options is to make it personal to your clients and the demographic you want for your company. There’s no point in trying to appeal to a group of teenagers if you’re selling home insurance. It would be like teaching a cat to be obedient – it’s just not worth the time or energy!
Your profile defines how your company is perceived in society and how it progresses. Don’t forget how much it can influence the business… And its bank balance!
rogersmallman 