When you start your first business, it can be overwhelming and frustrating because everything is still new. Not only are you trying to figure out how to make money, but your business isn’t widely known to the public yet. Here are three tips on how you can get your small business noticed.

Have a Strong Online Presence

As a small business owner, one of the most beneficial things you can do is to take advantage of the internet. Of the world’s nearly eight billion people, more than half have access to the internet, with just under half of that number being active on social media. Even if you’re a small business that only serves your local community and those who visit, you’ll still benefit from having a strong online presence.

Create a Website

The first thing you need to do is create a business website— even if you don’t plan on selling products online. At the very least, your business website will be more of a way for people to get information about your business: where it’s located, what time you open/close, and a description of what you have to offer.

Promote Your Business on Social Media

You’ll also want to have at least one social media page for your business. Facebook is still the most widely used social media platform, but you’ll want to gravitate toward the platform that your target market uses the most. The older generations tend to use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter more, whereas the younger generations tend to use YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Sell Promotional Merchandise

These days, selling promotional merchandise is a very effective marketing tactic for small businesses. Promotional merchandise includes everyday items that the majority of people already use— and you put your company name and logo on them. When people feel like they can identify with your brand’s voice and personality, they like to showcase this with merchandise that they can wear or use. Some of the most popular types of promotional items include:

• T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies
• Baseball caps and beanies
• Coffee mugs, tumblers, and metal water bottles
• Stickers, phone cases, and buttons/pins

Just keep in mind that you’ll be most successful selling promotional merchandise when the items are relevant to your customer base. T-shirts and outerwear are a safe choice for most businesses, but not everyone may be a fan of wearing hats or they may not be big coffee drinkers. You can also try multi-use items, such as lighters with bottle openers or stylus pens to appeal to a wider audience within your target market. You know your products and your customers best, so you’ll be able to figure out what type of promotional items will sell best alongside your main inventory.

Don’t Rule Out Traditional Advertising

You’re probably relieved to hear that traditional advertising techniques still work, especially if your target audience is your local community. In the same way, local businesses can benefit from online marketing techniques, e-commerce businesses can benefit from using traditional marketing strategies.

Printed Ads

Printed advertising has been in use for centuries, and it still works in the 21st Century. Before the internet was as widely used as it is today, businesses advertised by taking out ads in newspapers and even magazines. Both newspapers and magazines are still read by many people today, both online and in hand. Even e-commerce businesses can get featured in popular newspapers and lifestyle magazines such as The New York Times and People, respectively.

Event Marketing

Event marketing is another traditional way to get your business noticed by the public, once again useful for both in-person and e-commerce businesses. Local business owners should be aware of events that are going on in their community, as this is a great way to attract new customers and network with other local business owners. On the other hand, e-commerce businesses may need to travel for certain business events, such as pop-up shops where they can set up a storefront version of their online business. You can even try this in your local community.

The key for any type of business owner to get their business noticed by their target market is to capture people online and in person, and make them feel like a part of your brand. Advertising online and in-person helps create brand awareness, but you’ll also want to make sure that your brand is something they’ll want to be a part of— which encourages customer loyalty. To do this, identify your core values and why you feel like your products/services are a needed addition to the lives of your target market.