1. Start Building Awareness Early

The earlier you begin sharing your business idea, the more time people have to connect with it. Building awareness before your launch day ensures you don’t enter the market unseen. Instead of keeping everything quiet until the last minute, lay the groundwork for interest weeks or even months in advance.

Action Steps:

• Create a simple landing page with your brand name, what you do, and an email sign-up form.
• Offer a pre-launch incentive such as a discount code, early access, or a free resource.
• Start posting teasers on social media, even if it’s just progress updates or behind-the-scenes looks.
• Add a “coming soon” message to your email signature and online profiles.

2. Use Teasers to Spark Curiosity

Curiosity can be more powerful than detailed announcements. Teasers work because they leave room for imagination, making your audience eager for the full reveal. By sharing glimpses of your product or service without giving away everything, you can create a sense of anticipation that builds day by day.

Action Steps:

• Post blurred photos, silhouettes, or partial images of your product.
• Share progress milestones such as packaging arrivals, product testing, or office setup.
• Create countdowns across social media, email, and your website.
• Post short videos with hints or “behind-the-scenes” clips.

3. Work With Micro-Influencers

Micro-influencers are trusted voices with smaller but highly engaged communities. Unlike large influencers, they are more relatable, often more affordable, and better at creating genuine engagement. Collaborating with them before your launch can expand your reach and bring credibility to your brand.

Action Steps:

• Search hashtags on Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn to find local or niche influencers.
• Reach out with a personalized message explaining why your brand aligns with their audience.
• Offer free samples, trial access, or sneak peeks in exchange for content.
• Encourage them to share authentic experiences rather than scripted promotions.

4. Involve Your Audience Early

People are more invested in something they helped shape. Involving your audience during the pre-launch phase makes them feel like part of your brand story. Whether it’s voting on designs or offering feedback, participation builds loyalty before your business even starts.

Action Steps:

• Host a poll or survey on logo options, product variations, or features.
• Run a contest where your audience contributes names, slogans, or ideas.
• Ask for opinions on packaging, colors, or menus via social posts.
• Highlight community feedback and thank contributors publicly.

5. Plan a Launch Calendar

Timing is everything when it comes to hype. A structured calendar helps you balance anticipation with steady updates. Instead of overwhelming your audience all at once or going silent for weeks, you’ll deliver a consistent stream of reasons for them to stay engaged.

Action Steps:

• Map out key milestones: teaser posts, giveaways, and the official launch date.
• Spread content out over 3–6 weeks so interest builds gradually.
• Use a countdown approach with weekly, then daily reminders as launch day nears.
• Reserve special “insider announcements” for your email subscribers.

6. Tell Your Brand Story

Your story is often more memorable than your product details. Sharing why you started, the problem you’re solving, and the impact you want to create makes your business relatable. Customers don’t just buy products they support people and values they connect with.

Action Steps:

• Share your personal motivation for starting your business.
• Post about the challenges you overcame while building it.
• Use real images and behind-the-scenes videos instead of polished stock content.
• Create a short brand introduction video to pin on your social pages.

7. Offer Perks to Early Supporters

Exclusivity is one of the strongest ways to drive early interest. Offering something special to people who support you before launch makes them feel valued and encourages action. Early supporters often become your most loyal advocates.

Action Steps:

• Provide early-bird discounts or limited-time pricing.
• Give away free add-ons or gifts for the first customers.
• Create a VIP club or loyalty group for early sign-ups.
• Release limited-edition products or bundles only available pre-launch.

8. Reach Out to Media and Local Press

Media coverage can give your business credibility and reach audiences beyond your personal network. Small businesses are often interesting to local journalists, lifestyle writers, and bloggers who want fresh stories. Preparing a clear message before you contact them increases your chances of being featured.

Action Steps:

• Write a press release highlighting what your business offers and why it matters.
• Create a media kit with your logo, photos, and founder bio.
• Compile a list of journalists, bloggers, and podcasters in your industry or community.
• Send a short, respectful pitch offering an interview or story angle.

9. Host a Pre-Launch Event or Giveaway

Events give people a chance to interact with your brand in an exciting way. Whether in person or online, they make your business feel real before the official opening. Giveaways also encourage sharing, which spreads your message further.

Action Steps:

• Organize a launch party at your store, a local venue, or online.
• Run a giveaway contest where participants share your page or tag friends.
• Host a live Q&A or product demo on social media.
• Invite local partners, friends, and early supporters to attend.

10. Use Paid Ads Strategically

Paid advertising doesn’t need to be expensive to work. A small budget, used wisely, can amplify your pre-launch message to the right audience. Instead of blasting ads everywhere, focus on precise targeting and testing.

Action Steps:

• Promote your sign-up page with a small daily budget.
• Use retargeting ads for people who visited your website or social profiles.
• Test different images and messages to find what resonates.
• Run short campaigns leading up to launch day with clear calls-to-action.

11. Keep Your Branding Consistent

Consistency builds familiarity, and familiarity builds trust. If your colors, fonts, and messaging are scattered, people won’t remember your brand clearly. Even simple branding consistency helps you appear professional and reliable.

Action Steps:

• Choose 2–3 core colors and use them everywhere.
• Keep your tone of voice consistent across posts, emails, and ads.
• Use matching visuals on your website and social channels.
• Create a brand style sheet for reference.

12. Plan for Post-Launch Momentum

Your launch isn’t the finish line, it’s the starting point. What happens in the weeks after your launch will determine if your hype leads to long-term growth. Keep your audience engaged with updates, gratitude, and new reasons to stay connected.

Action Steps:

• Share testimonials or reviews from first buyers.
• Post user-generated content of customers using your product.
• Announce new updates, features, or restocks soon after launch.
• Send a thank-you email to everyone who supported you.

13. Track, Measure, and Adjust

Not all hype strategies work equally for every business. Tracking your efforts helps you see where the biggest results came from. By measuring and adjusting, you’ll build a stronger foundation for future campaigns.

Action Steps:

• Track email sign-ups, social engagement, and website visits.
• Review sales or pre-orders compared to your efforts.
• Analyze which channels brought the most attention.
• Adjust your future promotions based on this data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How far in advance should I start creating hype for my business launch?

Ideally, you should begin your pre-launch efforts six to eight weeks before your official opening. This allows enough time to gather email subscribers, tease your audience with previews, and gradually build awareness without overwhelming people too early. A structured timeline also helps you maintain steady interest until launch day.

2. What’s the most affordable way to generate hype if I have a small budget?

If you’re working with limited funds, focus on organic promotion. Creating a simple landing page, posting consistent teaser content on social media, and reaching out to micro-influencers are effective approaches that cost little to nothing. Hosting small giveaways and engaging directly with your audience can also spread the word without relying heavily on paid ads.

3. Should I focus more on social media or email marketing for pre-launch promotion?

Both are valuable, but email marketing tends to drive more direct results because subscribers have already shown genuine interest. Social media is excellent for visibility and reach, while email allows for deeper communication and stronger conversion. The best strategy is to use social platforms to capture attention and then guide followers to your email list for more personalized updates.

4. How do I know if my pre-launch hype strategy is working?

The best way to measure success is by tracking signs of growing interest. This might include a steady increase in your email list, rising engagement on teaser posts, or more visits to your website as launch day approaches. If people are asking questions, sharing your updates, and showing eagerness to buy or sign up, it’s a strong indicator that your efforts are paying off.

5. What are common mistakes small businesses make when trying to build hype?

Many small businesses wait until the day of the launch to start promoting, which often results in a slow start. Others over-promise or send too many repetitive messages, which can turn potential customers away. Another mistake is focusing only on launch day without planning how to maintain momentum afterward. Avoiding these pitfalls ensures your excitement translates into long-term customer loyalty rather than a one-time spike in attention.

Final Thoughts

Hype isn’t just about making noise; it’s about executing a thoughtful strategy. A carefully planned launch builds awareness, trust, and excitement that carry your small business confidently into its first months.

Every action you take before launch day lays the groundwork for long-term growth. Whether you’re opening a cozy local shop, unveiling an online store, or introducing a new service, the same principle applies: momentum matters. By following these proven steps, your business doesn’t just open; it opens with impact, energy, and the kind of buzz that creates sales.

References
• https://www.apparelentrepreneurship.com/succeed-before-you-even-start-16-ways-to-building-hype-around-your-upcoming-brand-launch/
• https://www.brandedagency.com/blog/hype-brand-strategies
• https://sprucerd.com/blog/how-to-build-fun-hype-around-your-launch/
• https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/5-powerful-pre-launch-strategies-for-your-next-ecommerce/362739
• https://www.visualfizz.com/blog/how-to-create-hype-for-your-new-product-launch/
• https://www.bluchic.com/create-hype-website-launch/
• https://jennakutcherblog.com/hype/
• https://www.hosted.com/blog/effective-product-launch-strategies/
• https://dowelldesignstudio.com/how-to-create-hype-for-your-business-launch/
• https://mirasee.com/blog/product-launch-ideas/

The post Proven Steps for Generating Hype as Your Small Business Launch Approaches appeared first on MoneyThumb.

 Small business marketing plans are all-important to ensure continued success and growth over the next 12 months. But a marketing plan with such a large scope can pose some issues, especially when other tasks begin to pile up as the year progresses.

In this guide, we’ll talk you through the steps you can take to develop a detailed and comprehensive marketing plan. You’ll also get some inspiration for marketing tactics that will drive conversion and strengthen your brand in 2023. Let’s get started.

 Planning Your Marketing Plan

 It might seem like overkill, but before you can put pen to paper on your marketing plan, you’ll need to do some extra preparation. The more time you put into this organizational stage, the easier it will be to stick to your marketing plan throughout the year. Below are 6 steps to make sure the marketing plan for your small business is tailored to your customers and goals.

1. Analyze Your Business

First, it can be helpful to evaluate where your small business is at coming into 2023. List your small business’s strengths, especially the ones you’ll be able to use in your marketing. These can be things that set your business apart from your competition, or any resources that might help with creating marketing content. You should also list any weaknesses you’re going to focus on this year. These can be resources your competition has that you do not, and any limitations in resources that may hinder your marketing.

2. Analyze the Market

Now you know where your small business stands, it’s time to analyze the market. This will help you get a good feel for what consumers in your industry are looking for, and what steps your competitors are taking to reach out to them. First, identify any market opportunities your small business will be able to take advantage of. These can be things like under-served consumer sectors and up-and-coming trends in your industry. You’ll also need to list any potential external issues your small business may come up against. These might be changes in consumer opinion and desires, or rising competitors ready to steal your thunder.

3. Analyze Target Market

 An important part of your marketing plan is figuring out who’s going to be on the other end of your content. Once you know what kind of consumers are likely to buy from your business, you can focus on creating targeted marketing materials that will convert them. Use your customer data from 2022 to find out if those who converted have common traits you can hone in on. While it’s tempting to target as many people as possible, try not to be too broad. An undefined customer base can stretch your small business’s capabilities and result in less conversion on the whole. Some demographics to determine might be:

• Age range
• Location
• Gender
• Hobbies
• Values
• Family/marital status

Once you know the demographics you’ll be targeting, think ahead about how 2023 will impact them and what kind of service they’ll be looking for. You’ll also want to note down how many customers you’re looking to reach, so you can scale your goals and marketing budget accordingly.

4. Set Goals

Now you know what your small business’s strengths and potential points for improvement are, along with your target market, you can set goals for the coming year. These goals will be what your marketing plan is tailored towards. Again, you may like to use the data from 2022 to be as specific as possible. Many small businesses use SMART criteria to set goals.

S - Specific

A specific goal will outline exactly what you want to achieve, who will be responsible for achieving it, and what steps you need to take. The more specific your goal, the easier it will be to allocate resources and track development.

M - Measured

A measured goal will include exact numbers or a definite ‘finishing’ point. This will help you know exactly how far you are from achieving your goal so you can alter resources as the end of the year draws nearer.

A - Attainable

While it can be tempting to ‘go big or go home’, setting unattainable goals will put unnecessary pressure on you and your small business. An attainable and realistic goal might only see a small improvement, but will be far more conducive to overall success.

R - Relevant

It seems obvious, but your goals should be relevant to your small business and your industry. To make sure your goal is significant, always bear in mind the questions is this something that we need to achieve? Why?

T - Time-managed

Being specific about deadlines can help you plan effectively. Smaller goals may only last 3 or 6 months, with the option to add to them as the year progresses. Some goals might span the entirety of 2023, and these will likely require more attention from you and your employees.

For example, in 2023 we will up site conversion from 0.2% to 0.6%, or, by July 2023 we will increase followers across social media from 900 to 3000. If your goals and aims adhere to SMART criteria, your small business is far more likely to stick to the plan and achieve them.

5. Determine Tactics

Once you know what you’re working towards, you’ve got everything you need to start developing the specifics of your marketing plan. Outline any marketing techniques you’re going to focus on and what you expect them to achieve. Tailor these techniques to the strengths of your business. For example, if you have a camera and a keen video editor on staff, you may like to try creating your own content.

Choosing only a select few marketing techniques will ensure your small business can give them each the attention they warrant. You can always pivot from the least successful techniques as the year progresses. Again, the more specific you are, the easier it will be to follow your marketing plan throughout 2023.

6. Allocate Resources

Now you know exactly what you want to achieve over the next year and how you’re going to do it, it’s time to determine what you’ll need. Marketing plans are not cheap to put into action, especially if you’ve got big dreams for 2023. So, at this point, you may need to edit your goals and tactics depending on the number of resources available to you.

Financial resources will likely be your biggest determiner for what ends up in your finalized marketing plan. But don’t forget, you’ll need human resources too. If you have a team of employees, get them involved at this stage to find out exactly what skills are available to you, and inform them of what you’ll be working toward.

Marketing Tactics to Try in 2023

If 2023 is the year you’d like to try something new in terms of small business marketing, here are a few tactics to add to your marketing plan.

A Year of Sales - Sales are a longstanding marketing technique that small businesses benefit from. Planning sales at the start of the year will mean you have ample time to prepare the necessary resources and get the financials in order. There are multiple points throughout the year when sales are expected by consumers, like Labour Day and Black Friday. You can even set up personalized sales, such as offering your repeat buyers, or those on your mailing list, 20% off on their birthday.

Influencer Marketing - If 2023 is the year you’re going to focus on social media, one way your small business can take advantage is with influencer marketing. Around 93% of brands utilize influencer marketing to reach out to potential customers. By partnering with an influencer whose audience intersects with your own, you can advertise your products or services with a personal and trustworthy touch. You might like to send some things out to influencers in a PR package, in return for their honest and unbiased opinions posted to their social media page. Or, why not set up an affiliate marketing scheme, where the influencer receives benefits based on how successfully they drive traffic to your small business?

Live-Streaming - With the exponential success small businesses are finding on sites that enable live streaming, like Instagram and TikTok, 2023 is the year to sample this marketing technique. These sites are tailored to small businesses, as you can add links to products directly into your live stream. All you need is a charismatic social media manager and enough time to spend reaching out to potential customers. You can provide product demos, a tour of your premises, and offer benefits (such as free shipping) to those who purchase during a live stream. This marketing tactic is particularly effective if your customer base comprises mostly Millennial/Gen Z leads.

Conclusion

January is the best time to develop your marketing plan and set it in motion before other tasks start to mount up. Any goals you set are easy to measure as the year progresses, and you can evaluate your marketing plan at the end of the year to see how successful it was. So, the more in-depth you can make your marketing plan now, the simpler it will be to follow it and make necessary changes.

To organize your marketing plan effectively, use SMART goals, take advantage of any resources available to you, and tailor techniques to the customers you’re trying to convert. Remember, if you don’t think something is working, you can alter your marketing plan at any time. All that’s left to say is good luck!

Sources

https://asana.com/resources/marketing-trends

https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing-statistics/

https://squareup.com/gb/en/townsquare/how-to-define-analyze-your-target-market

https://succeedasyourownboss.com/7-ways-to-jump-start-your-2023-small-business-marketing/

https://www.weidert.com/blog/annual-marketing-planning-process-steps

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/marketing-strategy

https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals

https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics

The post Starting off 2023 With the Perfect Small Business Marketing Plan appeared first on MoneyThumb.

What Will a Digital Marketing Strategy Offer You?

Quite a few small business owners do not think that they need to dedicate many resources to digital marketing. The largest competitors already seem to have control over the search engine results, so what’s the point? Just because you might not appear on the first page of Google, doesn’t mean digital marketing won’t get you results. Depending on your plan for your small business, the main goal of digital marketing is twofold:

More Customers

Whatever your target audience is for your products or services, a business-to-customer digital marketing strategy will help you hone in on them. By targeting your online content and marketing to a specific group of people who are more likely to shop in your store’s niche, digital marketing allows your business to attract customers who are far more likely to convert. This, of course, leads to more profit, and as long as you keep working at it your business will continue to grow. The more customers you reach with your digital marketing, the more your website will be pushed up in online rankings, and the easier it is for others to find your small business.

Strengthened Brand

Many forms of digital marketing require you to hone in on your small business’s niche, and what you can offer over your competition. By creating a steady flow of online content and marketing materials with this in mind, your small business’s branding will be consolidated. This is great for business-to-customer marketing, as potential buyers will know right away if you’re the best choice for them. However, a strengthened brand also contributes to your success in terms of reaching out to potential partners, as well as any bloggers in your niche that you want to employ for influencer branding.

With the right combination of techniques, you can build up your business’s customized digital marketing strategy. When you consider the long-term benefits of digital marketing, it’s also much more affordable than paid ads. All this contributes to your small business’s overall growth and helps you stake a claim in your niche. Now we know why digital marketing is both beneficial and important to your marketing strategy, let’s take a look at some of the specific tactics you can use.

What Are the Different Digital Marketing Tactics?

When businesses first began to utilize the internet for marketing, as long as your ads were refreshing and eye-catching, you could stand out from the competition. SEO and blogging came into use to take advantage of search engines’ algorithms, and have remained two mainstays of digital marketing techniques. While they are still vital to digital marketing, now there are a variety of tactics to put into practice on top of keywords. Employing each of the below techniques in some way will put you miles ahead of your competition.

SEO - As the tried and tested favorite, you’ll struggle to come across a business owner who isn’t at least familiar with SEO. Search engine optimization refers to the practice of optimizing all your online copy for search engines. This is done by using keywords and phrases that are commonly searched for by people shopping or exploring in your niche. You can find these keywords by using a free SEO keyword service, of which there are many online, and by researching what searches bring up which results in your niche. The suggested searches at the bottom of the Google results page are a great place to start.

Blogging - For the best results, you should opt to use keywords in your blogs that are high volume and low competition, i.e a lot of people are searching for them, but not many other businesses are capitalizing on them. This way you can make these keywords your own. Moving away from keywords, you can also generate SEO when other sites link to your blog. These are called backlinks, and they can either be created organically by providing great content that people want to link to, or you can propose a backlink exchange with another site.

Advanced SEO Practices - For the biggest chance at ranking highly on search engines, your entire site needs to be optimized with keywords and phrases. That means micro-text, as well as images and video that are embedded into your site, too. However, the most effective SEO doesn’t just focus on keywords. You can also climb the ranks on search engines by keeping users on your site for longer than your competition. This means providing top-notch web design with a smooth user experience and sales funnel, as well as employing lots of different media to hold users’ attention.

Social Media Marketing -  This refers to the use of a variety of social media platforms to attract new customers. Billions of people use social media every day, and each site offers small businesses the chance to do something a little bit different. For example, Instagram is perfect for product photos, descriptions, and branding, Facebook is the best for small ads and general info about your business, and YouTube provides an excellent opportunity to employ video marketing. You can also repost your content from your blog, and it’s far easier for potential customers to share your posts and extend your reach for you. Remember, you’ll still need to optimize all your social media posts to keywords.

Email - Email marketing is another classic form of digital marketing, but it has evolved significantly since it was first employed in the late 1990s. To best use email marketing to generate leads, you’ll need to create a mailing list, and consistently provide customers with the chance to sign up to it. Many businesses will offer their users an incentive to sign up to their mailing list, such as 10% off their first purchase. Using email is a smart choice if you have a lot of leads on your mailing list who haven’t yet made a purchase, so they are stuck in the sales funnel. Marketing emails should be short, snappy, and persuasive to best push these people into making their desired purchases.

eBooks - In much the same way that blogging about topics can attract people who desire this information, releasing ebooks in your industry niche can cement your small business’s position as trustworthy and knowledgeable in your field. eBooks are also great incentives to include in your marketing materials, and you can also offer them to your customers for free. However, good ebooks take a lot of work. If you want them to be effective marketing for your small business then there are no half measures when it comes to the information provided or the quality of writing.

Podcasts - The podcast industry took off in the early 2010s, and has yet to slow down. Podcasting in your business niche provides you with the opportunity to reach out to your customers and potential customers, and build a dedicated audience. Instead of reaching them through social media or search engines, digital marketing through podcasts means you can fit in around their lifestyle. This is greatly beneficial for your branding and sales, as it allows customers to create an emotional connection to what your business can offer.

Video Marketing - This is a highly valuable and versatile tactic to have in your digital marketing arsenal. Not only will video marketing look great on your website and boost your SEO, but you can also use it to elevate your social media marketing, too. However, making great video content takes a lot of skill and a lot of work. Due to this, video marketing is often a little more resource heavy and a little less affordable than other forms of digital marketing. Despite these issues, with good planning, you can create a wealth of video content including product tutorials, backstage peaks at your office or workspaces, introductions to your staff, and general viral marketing for Instagram and TikTok.

Text Message Marketing - Finally, mastering SMS marketing is a wonderful way to put your small business ahead of your competition. Not many small businesses will take advantage of this technique. But, with the right writing, text message marketing can add a valuable personal touch to your digital marketing strategy. Marketing through texts is highly effective, as people are certain to read their messages, often very quickly after they receive them. Remember, you’ll need to ask your customers for permission to use their number to contact them with text marketing materials.

What Should Be Included in Your Digital Marketing?

You might think that if your service and products are up to standard, this is all you need to highlight in your digital marketing strategy. However, to get the most out of the above techniques, it’s useful to know what to highlight when using each one of them.

Blogging and your web design will be dictated by the SEO keywords and phrases you’ve selected for your business. For the first few months at least you should work to target 5-7 keywords. If you’ve already created a website, it should be easy to add your core keywords into the text on your site. As for blog post content, informative articles that offer answers to popular questions, and listicles are always great choices for SEO. Make sure to pay attention to your site analytics, so you know of any pages you need to optimize for user experience.

For email and text marketing, you only have a select number of words to get your message across. An enticing subject line or first sentence, often not more than 10 words is best. Then, include an explanatory sentence, your customer incentive,  and a call to action. With email, you can also take advantage of graphic design and add your best SEO product photos. Make sure any images you use are of high enough quality, so as not to detract from your branding.

When it comes to podcasting, eBooks, and video marketing, a lot of planning is needed. You’ll still need to include keywords, of course, but you’ll also need to do a lot of drafts both of your books and your scripts, as well as a lot of editing. In many ways, drawing people in for long periods is harder than short-form marketing, as you need to hold your customers’ attention. With long-form marketing, there’s also a lot more to optimize. If you’re planning on making a video with voice-over or podcasting, you’ll want a voice that suits your small business’s branding. At the beginning and end of every podcast, eBook, and marketing video you should include your relevant social media, hours of operation if you have physical premises, the link to your site, as well as your contact details if you like. Make sure that any information you provide is fully cited. Include your original findings for unique content that your customers can’t get anywhere else.

Sources

• https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/digital-strategy-guide
• https://mailchimp.com/en-gb/marketing-glossary/digital-marketing/
• https://backlinko.com/advanced-seo
• https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/benefits-of-email-marketing
• https://www.internalresults.com/blog/benefits-ebooks-content-marketing-strategy
• https://www.business2community.com/podcasts/8-benefits-of-podcast-marketing-for-your-business-02399375
• https://www.rialtomarketing.com/benefits-video-marketing-small-businesses/
• https://blog.hootsuite.com/sms-marketing/

The post Learning the Digital Marketing Tactics Successful Small Business Owners Use appeared first on MoneyThumb.

Small businesses have had to adapt their thinking and approach. They are learning that the execution of their marketing strategies must change, and probably long term. For one thing, consumers who normally did their shopping offline were forced to begin using the internet to shop, which has changed the face of marketing forever. People quickly learned of the ease online shopping offers and many will never turn back.

This transition to online use by consumers created a boom in social media, video marketing, and online events, like webinars, online conferences, and Zoom meetings. Businesses that had formerly not used social media much to promote their product or service began to see the absolute necessity of doing so. They also learned the extreme value in creating relationships with their customers and potential customers on social media, rather than coming from just a sales mindset. Savvy marketers have also discovered the value of creating written and video content and holding informative webinars and conferences for their readers and viewers.

All of these changes that were forced on small businesses due to Covid-19 look to be permanent and were actually a very good teaching moment for marketers. We were forced to up our game and that can never be a bad thing. Challenges always do that, make us reach into the depths and find strength and abilities we didn't realize we have.

Search Engine Watch, one of our favorite marketing websites, has this great article titled Six Ways to Steer Marketing in a Post-Pandemic World. A fantastic read for small businesses seeking help with their marketing efforts these days. The beginning of that article includes a 30-second summary for your reading convenience, which we have listed below:

30-second summary:

• A recent survey by UNCTAD shows customer behavior will not change after the pandemic.
• COVID-19 pandemic has sped up the digitalization of businesses by several years.
• AI writers can allow companies to curate quality content within a short time.
• Innovative virtual conferences will grab the attention of millions even after the pandemic.
• Businesses should capitalize on the surge of social media use that has occurred in the past few months
• Small businesses need to target ultra-niche keywords to survive the tough competition.

For further assistance with helping your small business marketing efforts flourish post-pandemic, download this free guide from CPA Practice Advisor titled The Post-Pandemic Playbook, 6 Tips For Growing Business in 2021 and Beyond. 

Marketing your business effectively online is definitely the new normal after Covid-19. However, the one thing we haven't yet mentioned in this Rules of Thumb blog post from MoneyThumb is how much a winning or losing mindset has determined whose business is flourishing and whose is floundering since the onset of the pandemic. Our thoughts and attitude truly do determine our fate. Those who have stayed successful in spite of the challenges of the pandemic will tell you that one of the most important things they have done is to continuously seek out new ways to stay inspired.

Most successful people will tell you they maintain a positive outlook and thus a winning mindset by following admired mentors, reading inspiring books and online content, and listening to uplifting podcasts. Below we have listed several inspiring podcasts we suggest you tune into if you are a business person who desires motivation and wants to maintain a winning mindset:

Rant & Grow--Each episode explores with guests and experts how to powerfully move forward with careers, relationships, and self-realization by developing healthy habits.

Mixenergy Startup Stories--Inspiring stories of business startups and how they succeeded or didn't.

The GaryVee Audio Experience--A great podcast from one of the top online marketers who just happens to be a very interesting person.

Entrepreneur On Fire--This is a group of very successful entrepreneurs who offer up excellent advice and inspiration for small business owners.

The above list is a great one to get you started on the road to bigger motivation and thus success. The team at MoneyThumb would appreciate it if you could share this blog post on your social media page in order that your small business peers can benefit from it. Have a great weekend!

The post How The Pandemic Has Forever Changed the Face of Business Marketing appeared first on MoneyThumb.

To help your small business adjust and/or revamp your marketing efforts during these trying times, The Rules of Thumb blog from MoneyThumb would like to share advice the experts have to offer.

• WordStream offers some great advice regarding changes to marketing caused by the coronavirus in this article. A few highlights include how small business marketers should increase communication with their current customers and potential customers on social media. The article also says small businesses should change their business hours and include any other changes to their business caused by the coronavirus on their Google My Business profile. WordStream offers this free downloadable guide, How the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic Has Impacted Online Advertising—And How to Respond.
• Adweek offers tips for small business marketers during coronavirus in this article. Highlights include the following:

Key insights:

Brands can e-commerce, partnerships, and unlikely pivots to remain successful.

The better the community relationship, the higher the customer loyalty during crises.

Businesses will benefit from implementing the changes they've made into their permanent structure.

• • Neil Patel, one of the most respected online marketers in the world, has a tip for small business marketers that might surprise a lot of people during a time like this. "With your website and business, consider what you can give away for free. Anything you can do to help people out is appreciated, especially during this difficult time. You’ll also find that it will drive you more visitors, which is a nice indirect benefit." This article where that quote was taken from offers proof that this marketing strategy works. Mr. Patel always writes very in-depth and helpful articles, so be sure to read the whole thing to get the most out of his advice. There are plenty of other helpful tips for small business marketers during coronavirus.
  • MailChimp has quickly become one of the most respected email programs available. In this article titled Marketing Help for Small Businesses Navigating COVID‑19, MailChimp offers recommendations and resources for guiding small businesses through unforeseen circumstances.
  • This article from Harvard Business School titled Your Customers Have Changed: Here's How to Engage Them Again is a fantastic resource for small business owners and/or marketers.  The article emphasizes the same thing WordStream had to say. Here is a quote from the Harvard Business School article, "What is clear in the COVID-deaccession is that this change in customer behavior is pushing firms into a new “directional reality.” Firms need to adapt to shifting customer wants by engaging a more customer-centric philosophy. Rather than expecting their customers to come to them, they need to go to their customers." There is a lot of other good advice in that article, so be sure and read it in its entirety.

We hope the above information will help you as a small business owner better understand marketing during coronavirus and how to adapt your strategies. As a bonus, we would like to share this quick survey offered by Endeavor Business Media. For answering the questions about how the pandemic has affected your business you will be entered to win one of 4 $50 Visa cards.

The MoneyThumb team would appreciate it if you shared this blog post on your social media page so that other small business owners who follow you can take advantage of the information obtained herein.

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Search Engine Marketing

This portion of marketing is critical for a small business. It gives you a chance to compete with larger companies by being visible in search engines. Since people use search engines to find products both online and locally, it is important that your company place high in search results for words that relate to what you are selling. Professional Internet marketing firms offer this service under the name of search engine optimization. They can make sure your site is visible to those looking for your product when using a search engine. However, you can learn how to do SEO yourself, though it takes time to learn and understand.

Local Search Marketing

This includes website optimization for search results, but in addition, integrates a search engine's function of maps. This is especially true with Google, where your business can be listed with mapping and address information, giving a prospective customer what they need to visit your establishment. Your phone number and website address can also be listed.

Content Marketing

This strategy revolves around giving a prospective customer information about your product or service, as well as information in general. Everyone is trying to sell, but those that can inform are more likely to get sales. People will attribute a certain level of expertise to a company, and this instills confidence in the consumer. Content marketing in the past was often done with printed brochures and guidebooks, but today, this can be done with articles and other forms of information on a business's website, and with blogs like our Rules of Thumb blog.

Social Media Marketing

This type of marketing can be tricky. Everyone talks about social media, but the truth is, it can be difficult for companies to integrate social media into their business. The type of media used, as well how it is used, is dependent upon the type of business you have. For some companies being in touch with their customers and giving them breaking news can be an important element of success.

Other business, such as a local restaurant, have seen success using social media by letting customers know of the latest specials and new additions to their menu. The most important aspect of social media is to use it to strengthen your customer base to achieve repeat sales.

Email Marketing

This form a marketing is crucial to a small business online or offline. Essentially email marketing is about building a list of customers and prospective customers. This list of names and emails are people who are interested in your business, and you know this to be true because they have opted into this list themselves.

Perhaps they were offered future updates on products as well as coupons to sign up. As this list grows, it becomes more valuable. In fact, many marketing professionals consider this to be, in the long run, the most important small business marketing strategy in the long run. Once you have built a decent list of email subscribers, it is urgent that you send out a regular newsletter, which can contain specials offered only to subscribers and updates on your product or service.

If you have a small business, you need to take all of the above five areas of digital marketing into consideration. Some of these areas of marketing will be more important and effective, depending upon your type of business. Once you implement each one and work the strategy, you will learn which ones work better for you.

Another way to make your business work better and smarter is by using the PDF financial file converters offered by MoneyThumb. We have the best PDF financial file converters on the market.

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The Rules of Thumb blog from MoneyThumb wants to help our readers who are small business owners seeking ways to effectively market online to pay special attention to today's blog post. Why? Because we are going to share some advice that could change the game completely. The advice is this: Listen to Marketing Podcast.

The Value of Listening to Marketing Podcast: For Small Business Owners

Because they use audio content, rather than written or visual content, you can listen to a podcast anywhere, at any time. Perhaps that's why podcasts are so successful. After all, the numbers speak for themselves. In fact, 21% of Americans listen to podcasts, which is 57 million. That's the same percentage of people that are Twitter users, and only 13% of the country uses Spotify. Podcasts are huge.

However, many small business owners have no idea what the best marketing podcasts are. To help you get started as a marketing podcast listener, MoneyThumb would like to offer this list from an article at Inc.com. Below we have listed the ten best marketing podcast that Inc.com suggest listening to in 2018.

#1 #AskGaryVee

#2 Call to Action

#3 Social Media Marketing Podcast

#4 Copyblogger.fm

#5 The Science of Social Media

#6 Marketing Over Coffee

#7 The Tim Ferriss Show

#8 VB Engage

#9 Social Pros

#10 This Old Marketing Podcast

The full article can be read here. Inc.com does a great job of describing each of the above podcast and what they offer small business owners who are seeking successful online marketing tactics. You must remember that online marketing is an ever-evolving medium, so staying educated about it and up to date on the latest tactics that work is crucial to your business success. Listening to the above-suggested marketing podcast is a great place to begin changing your online game starting today.

Another way to change the game when it comes to the success of your small business is by using the financial file converters we offer at MoneyThumb. You won't believe the time you will save and the frustration you can avoid by handling your small business finances using this technology. Check out our suite of products while you are here.

From the Rules of Thumb blog and the team at MoneyThumb, we wish all of the moms out there a Happy Mother's Day and hope of our blog readers have a wonderful weekend!

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Staying Relevant in Today's Small Business Marketing Landscape

1. Discover Where Potential Customers Spend Their Time Online

It is a given that there are dozens of social media platforms that small business owners should take advantage of when it comes to online marketing. Instead of spreading your resources thin by maintaining accounts on every conceivable site, consider condensing your effort into only the most relevant channels to reach your client base. But how do you figure out which social media platform is most relevant to what you are selling? One idea is to run low-risk marketing tests to determine what performs well. You can then invest more heavily in what works. Another option is to create surveys to determine what websites your regular customers spend time on. This will help you reach your target audience.

2. Solve Your Customers' Problems

Another way to create a loyal customer base is by solving complaints before they become major problems. Current customers are the lifeblood of your business, and your goal is to be adaptive and responsive to their needs. If you can address complaints while they're still in infancy, you will retain more customers and avoid dissatisfaction down the line. Another great spinoff that occurs if you take good care of your customers is that word gets around, especially on social media. If you read reviews of successful businesses online, you will notice one factor that is consistent when they are praised, and that is that they take good care of their customers. Word of mouth is still the best advertising.

Even if your business is very small, if you have any employees they should be learning about social media marketing.  Maybe they will balk at first, thinking that isn't their job, but the truth is your business needs this marketing. Make learning it fun for them, and of course, throw in some little incentives along the way for good performance. Your employees know that in today's world we must be online to be successful and we also must be adaptable. Most of them are probably on social media anyway.

If you have the money to hire a separate marketing team, that's awesome. Go for it. But if not, train your current employees to be resilient, adaptable and out-of-the-box thinkers. This can help them be ready to respond to surprises and challenges they encounter. One way to build this type of team is to hire from a variety of skillsets. If one of your employees is stronger in data and statistical analysis, let that person learn Google Analytics and other data gathering tools that will help you see where you are the strongest and weakest when it comes to online marketing.

Marketing is a crucial component of any modern day small business. How adaptable your company is to the times will dictate your future success online. By creating marketing strategies and techniques like the ones listed above, your small business can stay on the cutting edge and remain relevant.

Another way to remain relevant is to use the PDF Financial File Converters from MoneyThumb. We have converters especially designed just for small business owners.

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