Marketing is crucial to the survival of any business, but particularly so for small businesses.

All small businesses need to have a marketing strategy but very often, small business owners struggle to keep their marketing efforts up to date.

While we recommend all small businesses hire a good marketing agency, we also understand that this may not be possible due to budget constraints.

If you have been managing your small business marketing on your own and want to make some improvements, then this article is for you.

Here are 4 simple improvements you can make to your small business marketing strategy-

1.) Use Your Competitors

One of the easiest ways to improve your marketing strategy is to look at what your competitors are doing.

If your competitors have been around for longer than you or are more established than you, chances are you can learn from their techniques.

Assess their landing pages, social media pages, websites, emails and more and see if you can emulate what is working for their brand.

Of course, you can add your own original notes too, but sometimes copying from your competitors is a great way to start.

2.) Collect Glowing Reviews

Thanks to the internet, more and more people are shopping around before choosing to make a purchase. If you want your brand to stand out from the crowd one of the best things you can do is offer reviews.

When prospective customers are able to read reviews about your products and services they are far more likely to trust your brand and follow through with their purchase.

Consider collecting reviews from your most valued clients and having them easily accessible on your website, landing pages and on social media.

3.) Stay Active on Social Media

No matter what type of business you run there is always room for you on social media.

Social media is a great way to update customers, reach out to new contacts and promote your brand to the world.

Depending on your industry, different platforms may be more worth your time, however it is highly recommended for most businesses to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

When posting on social media, try to offer content regularly such as photos, blog posts, status updates and more. Posting regularly helps to build trust with prospective customers and also helps your brand to stay relevant.

4.) Go to Local Events

A great way to expand your circle is to attend industry events. Going to seminars, expos and lectures is a great way to meet likeminded people and build up your client base.

Depending on your business, you may also find it valuable to set up a table at a local market, or create a pop up store at your local shopping center.

These are just some of the things you can do to get your brand out there and to keep your products and services on the radar of your community.

By following these 4 simple steps, your small business marketing will drastically improve and will help you to gain new customers for years to come.