November 2023
30 new ideas to market your small business in 2024
Rather than get demoralized and start panicking because what worked then doesn’t anymore – let’s think strategically and start experimenting to find what works now.
If you started your business in 2021, you’d be forgiven for believing that attracting clients is as easy as waiting for leads to simply…pop into your inbox.
Marketing has changed dramatically over the last couple of years.
(Thanks, economic downturn.)
But that doesn’t mean you should pack up and call it a day.
Not even close.
In fact, I hate seeing some of the advice floating around the online space that seems to suggest exactly that.
So rather than get demoralized and start panicking because what worked then doesn’t anymore – let’s think strategically and start experimenting to find what works now.
2024 deserves a fresh take:
30 new ideas to market your small business as we plan for the new year.
No one knows what works for your exact business situation the way you will once you’ve tried, tested, and, yes, failed over and over again. (Before you finally hit that big AHA moment!)
Make yourself more visible online
As someone who specializes in SEO, making yourself more visible online is one of the best ideas to market your small business.
You don’t necessarily have to hire an SEO specialist (though you certainly could).
And you definitely don’t have to break down and respond to one of those sleazy spam emails that promises to “10x your backlinks overnight.”
You don’t even have to make it all about SEO.
There are multiple methods and channels where you can show up and be more visible online.
Here are a few ideas to start with:
1. Review Google Analytics. Your goal with this one: determine which blog post is getting the most traction. This is a BIG hint about what’s resonating with your audience, and youcan use these insights to attract a new audience it will appeal to, as well. Once you know which post it is, create an opt-in that correlates with it.
2. Make sure your website images are formatted correctly. To help with SEO visibility, all images should: Have image titles / Include ALT text for accessibility / Be under 500KB each for glitch-free loading
3. Spend 10 minutes engaging with others within your industry. Do this prior to posting to “warm up the algorithm.” This will also help position you as an expert, and attract your ideal audience if you’re interacting with heavy-hitters in the same industry.
4. Reply to potential clients (or current/past clients) Instagram stories or posts daily, and like/comment on others. Sometimes being more visible is as obvious as making your name pop up on the feed.
5. Stay consistent with your visual branding. This includes your colors and fonts… Because visibility is only part of it. You also want to become recognizable and get noticed by the right people.
6. Partner with someone adjacent to your industry and swap blog posts. This is a great way for you both to reach a new audience!
7. Work on your mission, vision, and brand values. This is all part of building a memorable brand, and it helps you create consistency across your business. Consistency leads to trust.
8. Run a social media ad to gather email addresses. But don’t just let them gather dust! Update your email funnel with a new sequence and start generating buzz across all those new audience members.
9. Follow relevant hashtags. Hashtags aren’t dead. Following relevant ones and engaging with the content they produce helps increase your online visibility.
Capitalize on your experience
Being effective with your marketing strategies means taking what you know works and doubling down on it.
If you’re successfully running a small business, you have experience.
Own – and showcase – that experience. Here’s how:
10. Ask your clients for testimonials. You could have the greatest results in the world, but they don’t make much difference if no one knows about them! I know it isn’t easy, but you’ve got to get really comfortable asking clients for testimonials you can add to your website and social channels (social proof). And if you’re hoping to be known locally, Google Reviews are great for local SEO.
11. Write an in-depth blog post. You don’t have to call it “The Ultimate Guide,” but that’s the idea here. Go so in-depth into a topic that interests your audience (or, better yet – solves a problem for them) that they start to recognize you as the authority in that area.
12. Repurpose your old blog posts. Chances are, you’ve already got a huge backlog of expert resources! Dust them off and give them new life by repurposing them into your emails and social media posts. Then rewrite/update that blog post and push new traffic to it on those channels, too.
13. Craft a carousel that shows your stuff. Carousels are really popular on LinkedIn right now and show no signs of slowing down. Create a new carousel that really dives deep into solving a problem your audience has and positions you as a thought leader and expert. Just remember to engage, answer questions (and take notes for future content)!
Pro Tip: Hire a graphic designer to put it together if that’s holding you back.
14. Host a free webinar. Offer your expert advice on a topic that correlates to your services. Don’t waste time introducing yourself in the first 10 minutes of the webinar. If you establish your expertise up front and get right into it, people will be much more receptive to hearing about your services at the end. (Once they actually have a reason to trust your authority.)
Think outside the (online) box
Not everything has to be about interacting “out loud” (aka social media) or driving traffic to your website with killer SEO skills.
As we move further away from the days of isolation, let’s make it a goal to be social IRL again.
Here are a few ideas that are worth fighting past those introvert (hi, it’s me) tendencies:
15. Find 1-2 in-person networking events in your community. Go with an open mind, ready to mingle with other small business owners in your community. Follow-up with a quick note via email saying how great it was to connect with anyone you exchange information with at the event.
16. DM 3-5 people in your industry. One way to get ahead? Prioritize collaboration over competition. Invite people who do what you do to grab a quick coffee (virtual or otherwise) and talk shop. You never know what might come of it, and if nothing else, chatting with someone who just gets it is always a welcome way to spend some time.
17. Catch up with past customers/clients. People love hearing you care about what they’ve got going on. Email past customers/clients and invite them to a coffee chat. Show them you care about more than revenue by asking how that past project worked out for them.
Bonus: Sometimes, this leads to specific outcomes you can add to your social proof.
18. Pitch yourself. You don’t know if you don’t ask. Pitch yourself to guest on an industry podcast a few times a month and see what speaking opportunities come up as a result.
19. Tell people! Don’t be shy about sharing your offers, services, or products. Tell friends, family, past colleagues and share about what you do on your social channels and via email. Then do it on repeat. At the end of the day – you’re a small business owner. You have to SELL. No one else is going to do it for you.
20. Join your local Chamber. Then put in the work – show up at their business networking events or take advantage of their offers and opportunities to connect with other Chamber members.
21. Sponsor a local event. Find a charity you believe in and offer to sponsor their next event. Then be sure to attend and represent your business just by being there (in a classy way, of course).
Improve your offers
Sometimes, marketing yourself effectively is as simple as accommodating clients who want to work with you.
And then letting the word-of-mouth referrals work their magic.
22. Offer payment plans. If price is a factor in whether someone is able to work with you or buy from you, consider offering a payment plan. This can often be an easy way to eliminate the barrier holding potential clients/customers back.
23. Create a value ladder for your services. Another strategic way to handle the price objection when it comes to marketing your services is to do what the big brands do: Group different services/products together at growing price points.
Pro Tip: Price the offer you want to sell most as the “middle offer.”
Get creative
Get creative when it comes time to gather information, attract an audience, and grow yourself both personally and professionally.
24. Use the poll feature to ask questions. If you aren’t sure what your audience wants to hear about in 2024, use the poll feature to find out. Ask questions and pay attention to the questions you get asked to help formulate your marketing strategy for the new year.
25. Ask for feedback. You can’t improve in a vacuum. If you want to find a better way to market your business, ask 3-5 people in your target audience to review your website or a selection of social media posts. Ask if they understand your message, offer, services, etc. Use pointed questions to help you sell better.
Pro Tip: Offer them a Starbucks gift card for their time.
26. Work on yourself. Choose a new topic to focus on monthly. Work on things that you wish you knew more about or that could lead to a new area of expertise in your offers. Gather content (books, podcasts, articles, etc.) and plan time in your work week to review them.
27. Do something new. Schedule a day out of your normal routine to experience something new. Some fun ideas to get your creative juices flowing: Go to a museum / Visit a different town / Take a hike somewhere new / Check out your local art gallery
28. Take time to dream. Sit somewhere quiet and let your mind wander. Then write down everything on your mind, big and small. Decide which ideas you want to pursue and organize them into actionable steps if you can.
29. Do a giveaway. Offering a giveaway (even something super small) will trigger the reciprocity rule for humans and make it more likely that they’ll join your email list or follow you on social media.
30. Take a break. Don’t hustle yourself to death. Take a break when you need to so you can feel re-energized and get back to being excited about what you’re working on.
Recap: 30 new ideas to market your small business in 2024
1. Review Google Analytics.
2. Format your website images for SEO.
3. Spend 10 minutes engaging before you post.
4. Reply to potential clients.
5. Stay consistent with your visual branding.
6. Partner with someone adjacent to your industry.
7. Work on your mission, vision, and brand values.
8. Run a social media ad to gather email addresses.
9. Follow relevant hashtags.
10. Ask your clients for testimonials.
11. Write an in-depth blog post.
12. Repurpose your old blog posts.
13. Craft a carousel that shows your stuff.
14. Host a free webinar.
15. Attend 1-2 in-person networking events.
16. DM 3-5 people in your industry.
17. Catch up with past customers/clients.
18. Pitch yourself to guest on podcasts.
19. Tell people about what you sell.
20. Join your local Chamber.
21. Sponsor a local event.
22. Offer payment plans.
23. Create a value ladder for your services.
24. Use the poll feature to ask questions.
25. Ask for feedback.
26. Work on yourself.
27. Do something new.
28. Take time to dream.
29. Do a giveaway.
30. Take a break.
And no matter what business stage you’re in, never be afraid to experiment!
No one knows what works for your exact business situation the way you will once you’ve tried, tested, and, yes, failed over and over again. (Before you finally hit that big AHA moment!)
Book your free consultation to get a head start on new ideas to market your small business in 2024.