In a world where so many people dream of being their own boss, it’s not as easy as just having the idea and the commercial space anymore. With the corporate world and big box stores overtaking the small business world, the entrepreneur needs to have an air-tight business plan; and that plan must include “How am I going to generate business?” One can’t just expect to put a shiny red ribbon on the door and think customers will come in upon passing. How will you advertise your business? Yes, I asked you how you are going to advertise. In order to thrive in today’s market, you must reach your entire targeted consumers – by advertising – and then some. And please, for the love of BBQ, don’t forget a good website! No excuses! Don’t think you don’t need one, because you do. People like looking at pretty pictures, and if you don’t have any for them, you don’t have their business*. Millenials have now outgrown Baby Boomers as the largest age group; guess who uses the internet the most? Yep, those Millenials. And businesses need to appeal to everyone.
So what have we learned so far? We can no longer rely on word-of-mouth references, even in a close-knit community, to build up business. We have to get our name out there through using the resources available to us. Free advice here: if you’re a small business/just getting started, don’t go to some corporate agency that only sees you as a number on their screen; small businesses should do business with other small businesses – they share a common interest and have been built on the same core trade values. That part should be common sense. There are plenty of successful methods of advertising, with tried and true ways of tracing the return on investment. Any specialist will help you figure out which method is best for your industry, whether you’re opening a taco stand or an HVAC co; two-step advertising, mobile ads, texting programs, print ads, and in case you forget to keep up with asking “How’d you hear about us?” tracking numbers are a great way to know if you’re advertising was well-placed.
You very well may have the best tacos in the state, but nobody’s going to know that if you don’t put yourself out there. So, get your business plan in place, call your LOCAL marketing & advertising agency, and get you on your way to turning the one taco stand in Fayetteville, NC into 50 taco stands throughout NC, VA, and SC. Can’t do that without advertising – and that’s some real world truth.
*according to market study by profitworks.ca, 2016
Real World Truths 