We’re closing in on the end of 2013, and a new year always provides an opportunity to look ahead. If you want to take some concrete steps toward improving your small business marketing strategy, here are some small business marketing trends you should look for in 2014. I’ve also included some tips for putting them to work for your business in 2014.
Small business marketing and creative retainers
Budgeting is always easier when you know how much you’re going to spend. A creative retainer for your business in 2014 allows you to plan your design and small business marketing expenses, and save money at the same time. With a creative retainer, you commit to buying a certain number of hours per month of design services (you can choose as few as four hours per month), and you’ll save on the per-hour cost of design work. This arrangement is great for businesses that have a small but steady need for graphic design work, as well as for businesses whose design needs are somewhat unpredictable. The creative retainer allows you to pool the volume of your graphic design work to maximize your cost savings.
Small business marketing through social media
Social media is bigger than ever and it’s still growing. Consumers love social media and savvy businesses are positioned to take advantage of this trend. If you don’t know anything about social media, or don’t have the time or staffing to manage a social media campaign, outsourcing your social media marketing is the way to go. Whether you want to expand your business website to include a blog, gather new customers via Facebook, or maintain relationships with existing customers through Twitter, social media should be on your small business marketing to-do list for 2014.
Small business marketing with promotional products
Even small businesses can get a big bump from promotional products. Now is a great time to get small business marketing products like calendars, bags, t-shirts and other promotional products printed and ready for use in 2014. Promotional products offer a better “cost-per-impression” rate than most other forms of advertising, and customers who receive promotional products from businesses tend to purchase more from those businesses than they do from businesses who don’t go the promotional products route.
If you’d like more information about small business marketing, creative retainers, social media, promotional products or other graphic design services for your business, contact our Creative Director, Dave Ramsell or give Dave a call at (330) 243-0651 for a consultation.
Photo Credit: ba1969, via StockXchng
