Ensuring you and your business has the essential support its needs can make all the difference between success and failure! Supporting small businesses in their marketing efforts is crucial for their growth and success. As marketing consultants specialising in supporting small businesses, we’ve seen firsthand the challenges they face and the importance of providing them with the right support. Which is why in this article, we’ll delve into what small business owners should consider when seeking marketing support, what resources are available to them, and why attempting to do it all alone isn’t the best approach even when you are on a tight start up budget or struggling to juggle the books!.
What Small Business Owners Should Consider:
1. Business Goals and Objectives:
Before you seek potential marketing support, it’s essential for small business owners to define their goals and objectives clearly. Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving sales, or expanding into new markets, having a clear direction will help guide the marketing strategy. How will you know you have got there if you dont know where you are going?
2. Target Audience:
Lets be honest most businesses know they should do this, but not every business does do this! Understanding the target audience is crucial for effective marketing. Small business owners should have a deep understanding of who their ideal customers are, their preferences, behaviors, and pain points. This knowledge will shape the marketing messages and channels used to reach them effectively. The more detail you have on them, the easier it is to find them and turn them into your customer. Consider creating a customer avatar, give them a name, create content for them and position yourself their go to expert!
3. Budget Allocation:
Budget constraints are common for small businesses, so it’s important to allocate resources wisely. Small business owners should assess their budget carefully, and determine how much they can allocate to marketing activities. Prioritizing marketing efforts based on potential return on investment is key. You should also remember that investment is vital in order to attract customers, whether this is on targeted ads, content creation or another method, you cant sit back and just wait for them to come to you!
4. Competitive Landscape:
Analyzing the competitive landscape helps small business owners identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Understanding what competitors are doing well and where they’re falling short can inform strategic decisions and differentiate the business in the market. We advise all of our clients to regularly monitor their competitors and do indepth competitor analysis at least twice a year.
5. Internal Resources and Expertise:
Small business owners should assess their internal resources and any expertise available for marketing. While some may have in-house marketing teams or individuals with marketing knowledge, others may rely on external support from consultants or agencies. You could have a VA that supports you, maybe an office manager or even a marketing apprentice, but having an experienced strategic overview will bring direction and focus to any marketing activity!
Available Marketing Resources & Small Business Support:
1. Marketing Consultants:
Hiring a marketing consultant can provide small business owners with strategic guidance, expertise, and fresh perspectives. Consultants can help develop marketing plans, execute campaigns, and optimize performance based on independent data analysis.
2. Digital Marketing Tools:
A plethora of digital marketing tools are available to streamline various marketing tasks such as social media management, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and analytics. These tools can help small businesses manage their marketing efforts more efficiently and effectively. However, it can be quite easy to become overwhelmed with the choice, features and the additional costs involved.
3. Online Courses and Training:
Online courses and training programs offer small business owners the opportunity to expand their marketing knowledge and skills at their own pace. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and HubSpot Academy offer courses on various marketing topics tailored to different skill levels. We have also recently launched our own Marketing Mentoring Club which provides access to expert support, advice, training and resources!
4. Networking and Support Groups:
Joining networking groups or online communities of fellow small business owners can provide valuable support and insights. These platforms allow for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and learning from others’ experiences in navigating marketing challenges.
5. Government Programs and Grants:
Some local or county councils offer programs and grants specifically designed to support small businesses in their marketing efforts. There are also often central government schemes and other independent support programmes like Small Business Britain and Small Business Sunday! These initiatives may provide funding, training, or resources to help small businesses improve their marketing strategies and capabilities.
Why Small Business Owners Shouldn’t Try to Do It All Alone:
1. Expertise and Experience:
Marketing is a specialized field that requires expertise and experience to execute effectively. Trying to handle all aspects of marketing alone may lead to suboptimal results and missed opportunities. Working with experienced professionals or consultants can provide small business owners with access to specialized skills and knowledge.
2. Time Management:
Small business owners have numerous responsibilities beyond marketing, such as operations, sales, finance, and customer service. Trying to juggle everything alone can be overwhelming and detract from focusing on core business activities. Delegating marketing tasks to experts allows business owners to prioritize their time more effectively.
3. Cost-Effectiveness:
While hiring external support may seem like an additional expense, it can ultimately be more cost-effective in the long run. Investing in marketing expertise can lead to higher returns on investment through more targeted and efficient marketing efforts, ultimately contributing to business growth and profitability.
4. Scalability and Flexibility:
Outsourcing marketing tasks provides small businesses with scalability and flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions and business needs. External consultants or agencies can scale resources up or down as needed, ensuring that marketing efforts align with business objectives and market trends.
5. Focus on Core Competencies:
Small business owners excel in their core competencies, whether it’s crafting artisanal products, providing exceptional services, or developing innovative solutions. By outsourcing marketing activities to professionals, they can focus on what they do best while entrusting marketing experts to drive brand awareness and customer acquisition.
Stop Juggling It All & Organise Some Business Support now!
In conclusion, small business owners should carefully consider their goals, resources, and constraints when seeking marketing support. While there are various resources available, attempting to handle all marketing activities alone isn’t advisable. Outsourcing to experienced professionals or leveraging digital tools and resources can help small businesses navigate the complex landscape of marketing effectively and achieve their growth objectives.
Over the last thirty years Elizabeth has start up and run a number of successful businesses in a variety of industries including events management, restaurant, webdesign, business training and gardening! This has led to extensive knowledge of business startup, management and marketing.
She is also a qualified and experienced business and life coach with a passion for supporting small business owners. In addition to all of this she is an experienced and qualified further education lecturer, having taught face to face courses and workshops across England, as well as a range of online courses in a range of business and marketing topics .