Brand Yourself: Designing Your Small Business Website
Brand Yourself: Designing Your Small Business Website
What does your website say about your small business? We’re not talking about the obvious stuff, such as hours, contact information and locations. (You should include those things; otherwise, what’s the point of your website?) But we’re talking about the story your website has to tell. Everything on your small business website, from your logo to the colors and fonts you choose, says something about...
4 Ways to Build Your Small Business’ Brand Awareness
Let’s be honest: Brand awareness is kind of a big deal. It’s the reason people fly Delta instead of “Discount Dan’s Awesome Airline,” the reason people ask for a Coke instead of a “cola” and the reason no child alive has ever begged for “Magic Marshmallow Crunches” when there’s a perfectly good box of Lucky Charms on the shelf above. People do business with the...
What Is Hyperlocal Marketing, And Does Your Small Business Need It?
A few years back, the marketing world started whispering a new buzzword: “hyperlocal.” Then the whispers became louder, and before long, people were shouting it from the rooftops: “Hyperlocal marketing is the new way to do business!” Except the only thing new was the word itself. In fact, hyperlocal marketing is one of the oldest strategies in the proverbial book. But what exactly does hyperlocal...
Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Your Guide to Small Business Newsletters
Newsletters. Sure, they’re slightly reminiscent of those missives you were supposed to bring home to your parents from elementary school but ended up becoming paper airplanes instead. However, when a newsletter is done right, it can be a great engagement tool for your small business, and maybe even something your fans look forward to each month! But what do you include? And how often do...
What Pokémon Go Can Teach Us About Small Business Marketing
Assuming you’ve had access to the outside world for the past few weeks, you’ve surely heard about Pokémon Go. This mobile game has captivated the nation, leading otherwise sane individuals into real dark alleys and real sketchy neighborhoods in search of imaginary monsters. Since we’ve touted capitalizing on “trending topics” time and time again, we figured we should follow our own advice. But because you’re...
5 Tips to Make Your Small Business’ Logo Legendary
What do Nike’s swoosh, McDonald’s golden arches and Mischa Communications’ multi-colored chameleon all have in common? They’re all logos that are instantly recognizable to their clients, customers and fans. Do you have a logo like that? Do you have a logo at all? When it comes to branding your small business, having a fantastic logo is the best thing you can do for your visibility....
10 Free Ways to Market Your Small Business
We talk a lot about inexpensive marketing strategies, but let’s be honest. You’re small, and if you’re just starting out, even “inexpensive” can be beyond your budget. Don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to market your small business for a zero-dollar fee -- or at least 10 ways, as the headline implies. Here they are! #1: Social Media This shouldn’t come as a shock...
3 Times Your Small Business Brand Needs a Stick of Dynamite
Dealing with a struggling small business brand is like purchasing a run-down home: Sometimes you can fix the issues with a fresh coat of paint and some new plumbing, but other times it makes more sense to burn the house down and rebuild it. As difficult as it is to acknowledge the fact that your small business brand just isn’t working anymore, it happens –...
Editors Keep an Eye on Your Small Business
Typos, while certainly undesirable, won’t have a long-lasting effect on your small business, right? A couple of transposed letters or an extra space between two words or a simple misspelling won’t make or break you … right? Well … Macy’s knows the pain of a poor edit all too well. In 2013, the department store sent out a mailer offering a $1,500 silver necklace for...
Dress It Up: 3 Small Business Product Packaging Tips
The old adage implores us not to judge a book by its cover. But a flashy, new tome prominently displayed in the middle of a store sells a lot better than a drab paperback in the bargain bin. It’s basic human nature – we’re all magpies who are attracted to pretty, shiny things. Your small business’ product packaging works the same way. As unfair as...