Visibility is one of the biggest challenges that small business owners face. The holiday season is around the corner. That means there’s no better time to spur your marketing efforts forward.
But with competition at your heels and limited resources to use, what’s the best approach? In truth, you don’t need a massive advertising budget to see results. These advertising ideas will enable you to get your brand out to a bigger audience.
Do you want to get ahead of the competition and make a breakthrough in leads and sales? Read on for some great ad ideas you can leverage this holiday season.
Use Google Ads Credits
Search results are the easiest way to reach new customers online. While paid ads can offer a high return on investment, the initial cost can be too much for small businesses. However, Google offers a solution to new Google Ads users.
When you spend $500, Google gifts $500 worth of free ad credits. If your audience consists of people searching the web, this is the time to use those credits. Visit https://www.climbingtrees.com/ to learn how to make the most of Google Ads.
Optimize Your Google My Business Account
Small businesses have an advantage over larger companies, and that’s a smaller audience. A smaller audience allows you to tailor all the fine details of your advertising strategies for greater success.
Studies show that over 85% of consumers browse the internet to find local businesses.
Google My Business showcases your business on Google so browsers can learn more about it. Optimizing your account gives your business a higher chance of reaching top results. Creating a profile is free; all you have to do is fill out your contact information, location, and business hours.
Adding photos can also entice browsers to visit your location.
Host or Join Local Events
Digital ads are great for visibility, but sometimes, the best way to advertise your brand is to put yourself out there.
Hosting an event is a great way to introduce your business to your locale. You will need a lot of planning to generate positive press, but the payoff will be worth it. Hosting an event builds excitement around your brand and gives you a chance to form new relationships.
You can also opt to join local events instead. Consult your local council and see what events they have lined up for small businesses.
Apply for Business Awards
One way to enhance brand visibility is through authority. You want customers to believe you’re good at what you do. What better way to do that than by being the best in your industry?
A business award grants your business online and offline exposure. Hosts in local communities sometimes invite winners to give demonstrations. Focus on awards that are most relevant to your business and target audience.
Sell a Mystery Gift Box
Mystery boxes attract a lot of attention from buyers. People love to take chances to see if they can get something worthwhile. This also allows you to clear out slow-moving inventory and make room for new products.
In addition, buyers get to try a bunch of your products for a low price. Some people may come back for another taste of a product they liked.
Partner With Other Businesses
Collaborating with other small businesses in your area is a great way to tap into an existing audience. Look for businesses whose target audience overlaps with yours. As long as your products don’t compete against each other, this can be a great opportunity for you both.
For example, if you run a cafe, you can partner with a business that sells pastries. You can give each other shout-outs on social media or name each other as trusted partners on your websites. Another benefit of partnering with other businesses is that you can split advertising costs.
Host a Social Media Competition
Social media is one of the best ways to connect with customers online. It puts you on a platform to share pictures and even advertise your brand. However, reaching your audience with normal advertisements can be hard when there are bigger competitors.
Set yourself apart by hosting a social media competition. You may have a limited edition product that you want to advertise for the holidays. People love getting free things, so leverage that to get more engagement.
Social media competitions are also pretty simple. All a user has to do is like, comment, share the post, or tag a friend. This serves as their ticket for entering the competition.
Start a Referral Program
There are many types of ads, but no advertising strategy is more powerful than word-of-mouth. People are more likely to buy from a new business if the word comes from a friend or family member. When a trusted person recommends something, you know it’s worth trying out.
Use this to your advantage by starting a referral program. This encourages your current customers to recommend products to friends and family. Your program can include redeemable points, discount codes, or VIP access to new products.
Create a Geo-Tag on Social Media
Creating a geo-tag gives you more opportunities to interact with customers online. When users tag your business, the geo-tag shows your locations so that other users can visit you too. This can make your brand more visible when people search for related tags.
Advertise for a Cause
It’s the season of giving, so consider giving back to your local community. Consumers feel more connected to businesses that share the same values and morals. Giving back to your community shows that you’ve committed your service to them.
It can also help build a more positive perception of your brand. Start by looking for non-profit organizations in your area and see what you can contribute.
Try These Advertising Ideas in Your Next Campaign
Effective ad campaigns don’t always have to be flashy or expensive. These advertising ideas are great examples of what you can do to build brand visibility. You only need to know how to use online tools and prove that you’re part of the community.
Are you looking for more tips for your next marketing campaign? Check out our other blog posts for more guides.