3 ways to use PR and marketing as a small business owner

Running your own business can be rewarding and demanding in equal measure.

You plan, organise, manage and take all the risks on board to be your own boss and reach your goals. You are the founder, creator and the employee.

The day to day pursuits of being your own boss include finding ways to

• motivate yourself (and your team, if you have one)
• win new clients and customers
• explain what you sell and how customers can buy
• understand how to share your stories so the media to give you exposure and (free) promotion.

Website

Your website is your shop window to display everything you do sell. It’s a space to build credibility and trust with your customer so they feel comfortable to purchase your items or services. Alternatively, it’s a place to justify and confirm you are who you say you are. What can you do to make sure your website is a fabulous place to be:

• • Is the navigation clear and easy to use? The user can click on links and they work
  • Is the functionality clear – do the pages load? Are the page optimised for a computer, tablet and mobile phone so everything is easy to see?
  • Can people contact you easily 
  • Is your e commerce settings correct so people can purchase items and receive receipts?
  • Do you update your website regularly so it is up to date?

Consistent communications 

Consistency: Life gets busy and time flies by but consistency is key. Once you have the attention of your audience, ensure you provide consistent information to keep in touch and inform your audience and fans. Think: how often do you want to communicate with your customers? Too often may appear needy and overwhelming. Too little and you risk your customer forgetting who you are and how you can help them. Consider what is the best approach for you and what you can do on a regular basis.

Want to give it a go? Here’s the toolkit that tells you how to pitch your story to the media.

Interact with your customer

Interact with your customer base When you meet a new contact, ask them to connect via social media platforms so you can share useful information and keep in touch. Use social media to find out more about your new contact so you can build a positive business relationship. You never know, you may end up collaborating together on future projects!

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