Sydney Twichell LLC

Marketing is an often overlooked aspect of starting a small business. When you have so many plates spinning at the beginning of your business, marketing is an easy step to skip. “I don’t have the budget”, “word of mouth is enough”, “I don’t know where to start”, “I tried it once and didn’t get results”. I have heard it all, but later I will also see these same businesses making announcements on social media that they are closing, followed by dozens of comments saying “I didn’t even know y’all were here”. 

This is why marketing is such a crucial part of starting your business. Your business can’t grow if people don’t know you are there. You could have the best product or service, but if the world doesn’t know about it you won’t get the results you need. 

So what do we do to fix it? First, don’t panic! It can be overwhelming at first, but building the foundation can help you market your business without the added stress. So here are the beginning steps of marketing your business:

Clear Brand Identity

Your brand is what sends your audience a message of who you are, what you do, and why you do it. It is the first step in your marketing AND your PR. Your brand includes the fun stuff like your logo, color schemes, and fonts. It also includes the tricky stuff, like a vision and mission statement. But wait, what’s the difference between a vision and mission statement? 

When you Google vision vs mission statement, you get these results:

A vision statement outlines an organization’s aspirational long-term future, while a mission statement defines its current purpose and how it will achieve its goals. The vision is a broad, abstract view of the future, while the mission is a more specific, tangible guide for current activities. 

Defining these clearly will help you in the future when making social media posts, bios, and for your website. 

Define Your Ideal Client/Customer

You could cast a wide net when it comes to your advertising, but you are unlikely to get the results you want. Instead, you’ll want to sit down and analyze who your ideal client/customer is. What age is your ideal client? What problem or need are you hoping to help with? What platform are they most likely on? For example, I had a client whose ideal customer was moms of young children who are looking for cute clothes for their kids. The most likely platforms their client would be on are Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, so that is where we focused her marketing efforts. 

User Friendly Website

Next, you’ll want to have a website that is clean, clear with your message and branding, and easy for your audience to navigate. As you build your website, be sure to look at it from both a phone screen and computer screen so you can ensure your audience can clearly navigate the site from either device platform. Additionally, you’ll want to create a clear call to action (CTA), and an about page that builds trust by being honest and authentic. This helps with building both your marketing and your PR as a brand. 

Email List Building

Email marketing may sound outdated, but it is by far the superior method of digital marketing. Building a solid email list can give you a strong connection to your audience. To start collecting emails, you’ll want to build a lead magnet. This can look like freebies, discounts, or resources that can help your audience. For example, the subscribers to my newsletter will be getting a free download of a brand builder attached to this article. 

You will also want to use an email platform to start building trust and sales. I use Flodesk, which is an easy, user-friendly platform that is great for beginners and professionals. If you would like to try Flodesk, use my code for 50% off your first year! Flodesk Discount

These beginner steps can make a big difference when it comes to growing your digital footprint. As you work through these steps, it is important to remember that it is rare to get immediate results. Marketing and PR is a slow burn. It’s about establishing trust with your audience, and that can take time. Have you ever found a video or graphic on social media that really spoke to you, so you went to the page and scrolled through the rest of their content? I have. That is why when you make a post that gets no likes, don’t be discouraged! It gives your audience more content to look at in the future! 

If you are still unsure of how to start, don’t worry! There are resources available to help you get started, or even continue if you get stuck in a rut. My company offers strategy sessions that give you one on one coaching with your marketing and PR, and can allow you to create a plan for the future of your business’ digital presence. 

If you would like to learn more about my strategy sessions, call or email me today! 

210-454-8000

sydneytwichell.llc@gmail.com