Dream Big, Start Small

Promoting and growing your business is what National Small Business Week is all about

“Dream Big, Start Small” is the slogan used by the Small Business Administration during its yearly National Small Business Week, this year celebrated May 1-7. Every year since 1963, this week has been a time to recognize the contributions made by American small-business owners and entrepreneurs.

That same slogan could probably have been your motto when you started your own business. It takes a dream, some risk and a lot of hard work to create and grow a company.

You probably did start small and have been working on growing ever since. So in honor of National Small Business Week — and keeping “dream big” in mind — here are some tips on growing and promoting your business.

Use community involvement to get your name in front of potential customers. Traditional advertising is getting more expensive and often less effective. Community relations management is just a different way of getting the same attention. Brand recognition brings real benefits. Reach your audience by sponsoring a local youth sports team, volunteering, joining chamber of commerce events; anything that makes you visible in the community. Here are some tips on becoming a community partner ­— and earning loyal customers.

Content marketing matters. It’s getting more and more important to reach your customers through digital means, not just traditional advertising. One great way to do this is by providing engaging content on your website, blog or other social media channels. This also gives you another way to put educational materials in front of customers, which is very important in the onsite industry. Get started by learning why you need content marketing for your small business.

You’re a professional. Get paid like one. Talking money with customers can be tough, and rare is the homeowner who doesn’t bat an eye at a bill for a septic system replacement. You are the expert and you provide a service that is incredibly valuable. Take the time to explain what you’re doing, why it’s necessary and explain the value. It’s about more than justifying the bill. Here are some messages you should include when discussing your work with customers.

For more on National Small Business Week, including nationwide events, webinars and more, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.



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