“Why does marketing matter?” Great question! Marketing your business matters for several reasons. It can be one of the main differentiators in what makes or breaks your company and what sets you apart from your competition. You are always more likely to gain customers, reach new audiences and increase brand awareness when you invest in digital marketing initiatives. It’s worth noting that having a strategy can make all the difference when it comes to the effectiveness of your approach, the audience you reach, and the stream of income.

It's GO Time! …to Set Clear Goals and Objectives

Set clear goals and objectives that will work best for your business. Once you have a plan in motion, you can begin testing the waters. You’ll come to find that you don’t have to be on every platform. Conduct research about your target audience or potential clients prior to setting up your ads or social media presence. This is the best time and space to introduce your brand and position as the solution to their problems.

Find out where your customers are, what their interests are, and what products and/or services they need. Then apply that to where they are online and even locally. If your audience is primarily on Facebook, then it would be best practice to start marketing there to reach them. If they frequent your local coffee shop, ask the owners if you can post a flier or place business cards in shop so those who are seeking your services can find you.

Starting Out & Standing Out

If you’re just starting your business, marketing is important because it can help build brand awareness. You might also want to think about your brand identity and how to set yourself apart from the rest who are performing the same services as you. Come up with a creative company name, an attention-grabbing logo, and a tagline or company description that gives your audience a snapshot of who you are and what your company has to offer. Highlighting important operational aspects of your business like “Family Owned & Operated” or “Veteran Owned” are great indicators that can attract customers who resonate or associate with the company’s values.

Getting out there and making your brand visible is the first step in gaining brand recognition and business growth. You have to put your first foot forward in order to get results. Although it can be difficult to balance managing your new business and marketing, it doesn’t have to be. There are resources that make it easier for you to take advantage of.

Reaching a New Audience

With more people spending time online than ever, it's crucial that your business has a strong presence there too. Google is the first place most people go to when they're looking for something new—and you want your business to show up when they search for products or services like yours. If you are up for the task, major social media and online platforms like Facebook and Google have an ads manager that you can use to make it easier to find and reach the right people locally. You can even reach out to local marketing agencies who can help in your company’s marketing efforts. Since we’re marketing and surface preparation experts, our ad campaigns and website optimization make sure you appear in search results so potential customers can easily find you.

Dustless Blasting® offers marketing services for this sole reason—to help you market your business so you don’t have to. It can be tough to market your sandblasting business when you don't have any past clients. However, if you purchase our Digital Marketing Package, you get access to all of the videos, pictures, and branding resources that come with it. We create an online presence and target ads for you with the potential to reach customers in your area that you might not have otherwise. We know that your time is valuable and your focus is dedicated to your new business, so we’re here to help you do the heavy lifting!

The Tried and True Tradition

Print marketing materials are a tried and true form of marketing that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon and can ultimately leave a lasting impression on people who see them. From the evergreen business cards to yard signs, the marketing possibilities are endless. Print materials are oftentimes overlooked and deemed dated or old, but the value they hold is immeasurable when you really put them into perspective.

There are several different outcomes that print materials can have and ways they can be shared. For example, if someones ask if you’re capable of restoring their 1987 Chevy Impala, you can hand the potential client a branded rack card with details on the services you offer. That will answer their question and also give them something to hold on to if they still need time to make their decision. If they do decide to take up your services and are satisfied with your work, this can prompt them to want to recommend your business to their friends, neighbors, or family who also might happen to be looking for a similar job done.

Set Your Business Up for Success 

Marketing is crucial for the success of your company. If done correctly, it can help you pull ahead of your competitors. Utilizing a marketing strategy can help you better understand your target market, what they want, and how to best reach them. It can also help you create content that resonates with your audience, leading to more engaged clients and eventually more conversions. Additionally, a marketing strategy can save you time and money by helping you focus your efforts on tactics that are most likely to generate results.

Lastly, we advise setting up a Google Business Profile so your happy customers can easily leave you reviews. Don't be afraid to ask them — good feedback reinforces your credibility and attracts more business opportunities. If you want more tips on how to maintain a consistent workflow or you're not sure where to start when it comes to promoting your business, take a look at our in-depth guide on Starting a Successful Business.

Editor's Note: *This post was originally published on March 8, 2018, and has been updated to stay up-to-date and relevant and reflect any changes to the information hereby provided. 

*Dustless Blasting® is a registered trademark of MMLJ and may not be used in your business name. Our business owners must abide by the Guidelines for Using MMLJ Trademarks and Copyrights.