Marketing plays a vital role in running a successful business. Without marketing, your business is likely to plateau or even fail. Below are a couple of misconceptions business owners have about marketing and why you should think about those misconceptions differently.
“I’ll market more when I get bigger.”
This is a fairly common response to questions about marketing. Maybe you don’t have time to spend marketing your business because you’re too busy running your business. Maybe you’re not sure where to start and that uncertainty keeps you from starting at all. Or, maybe you just don’t see the value that marketing holds. No matter where you fall, believing that marketing is something only meant for larger companies could end up hurting your business in the long run.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “You have to spend money to make money” and, in this case, it’s true. You don’t want to throw a bunch of proverbial spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks, though. Marketing is more involved that than. It is a way for you to build relationships with your customers, establish a good reputation for your business, and grow awareness about your products or services. Without doing those things, your business will grow at a much slower rate (if at all) and you’ll have a harder time reaching the goals you’d like to reach. Waiting until you “get bigger” may mean you’re always waiting. Marketing before you’re big will help you to actually get big.
“I don’t need a website. I have a Facebook page.”
This one is specific to online marketing (which, by the way, is worth checking out). The roots of this idea are pretty similar to the roots of the previous one. Let’s be clear: Facebook pages can definitely help you grow your business. Facebook is one of the most widely used social platforms available and it boasts users that span several different age ranges. It’s a valuable tool, and you should use it. You should not, however, treat it as a replacement for a website.
The beauty of a website is that you have full control. Social platforms like Facebook rely heavily on algorithms and your posts are at the mercy of those algorithms. There are ways to work with them and make good use of them, but they can still be a barrier to your audience at times. With a website, you are able to feature the content you most want your customers to see in very prominent places, like on your homepage or above your header.
Websites are also helpful for search engine optimization (more on that here). Most people look to search engines like Google when trying to find different products or services, and an optimized website will put your business’s name in front of those potential customers faster than a social platform will.
Here’s your sign
Marketing is a worthwhile investment. It will help you grow your business, build good customer relationships, and reach your goals. You don’t have to do it alone. Bold River Marketing would love to partner with you in your marketing efforts and help you and your business succeed. Contact us today!