Creating a new business or running a small business can be overwhelming. Between marketing, accounting, logistics, supply chain and other vital pieces of your business, it is hard to know where to start.
The following are some helpful starting points for developing materials for at least one of those areas, marketing.
Designing a logo should be among your first steps when preparing marketing materials. It is important that you take the time to carefully develop a professional quality logo because it will be incorporated throughout all other materials.
Your logo can be simple or intricate, contain text or no text.
The idea is that this image is a symbol of your brand and it uniquely represents you. It should be easily recognized and associated with your business, because if it is forgettable or too similar to a different logo, it will lose its symbolism for your brand.
Business Cards
Your business cards are a great first location to show off your fancy new logo. These cards are so multifunctional and a vital piece of every business’s marketing strategy.
Not only are these simple, yet professional cards a great way to pass contact information along to clients or investors, but these cards are a pocket sized memory of your brand.
A helpful tip for effectively utilizing business cards is to leave stacks of cards at locations where potential customers might come across them. Get to know your neighboring store owners and offer to house a stack of their cards in exchange for leaving some of your own with them. Another suggestion is to always carry a few extra business cards in your own wallet because you never know when you are going to run into an important contact.
Your website is like home base for your brand. This should be the ultimate collection of content that can help people get a feel for who you are and what is unique about your business.
The idea of designing a website can be intimidating, especially to someone who has no web design experience. Don’t fear! LOJO can help you design the perfect website that will represent your brand!
Here are some key elements that your website should definitely entail:
- “About Us” section
- Professional photo content
- Contact information
- Recent updates or news
- Standard info (address, hours of operation, etc.)
- Social media links
Make sure that when organizing your website, you create a natural flow from page to page. Have someone uninvolved in your business try it out and give you feedback before going live with your site.
Social Media is not only a great place for teenagers to post selfies, but also an absolute must for online marketing success in the business world.
A small business does not need to tackle all social media platforms at once, but try out one or two at first and see how much engagement you can acquire.
Research which platforms are the most applicable to your target market and go there first. Your social media content will help your brand to become personal and accessible for your clients.
Once all your social channels are unified within your brand, you will build trust among your clients, investors and potentials.
Once you have mastered these four marketing materials, you will be well on your way towards marketing success!
Written by Nicole Richards