The "Ultimate" Small Business Marketing Guide

Le;s start by clarifying that there is no such thing as an-ultimate guid- to marketing. In-truth, marketing is an ever evolving, and essentially limitless business function.

Take for example, the incredible growth of new media marketing tools and tactics in recent years, if 'd written this guide two years ago, its doubtful Twitter would have got a mention.

Likewise, what works for one business might not work for another.

Despite this, there are some universal marketing principles and surprisingly creative approaches that can help any small business owner find and grow new markets, while nurturing their existing customer base.

Here are some tips, tactics and approaches that you might want to consider as you build out your small business marketing toolkit.

Know Your Market and Monitor Your Competition

Market research should be a core and ongoing part of your business management. This Small Business Market Research Guide can help you understand how to conduct market research using freely available data.

Understanding your market also means getting to know who is competing for that market and using this information strategically. Read: 5 Tips for Getting to Know Your Competition and using it to Your Advantage.

Craft Your Marketing Message

Wha's your business marketing message? What do you tell your customers about your company, what it does, and why they should do business with you? The fact is that many small businesses are confused about what their marketing message is and how they should communicate it to the outside world. Here are seven steps you can take to develop a marketing message that grabs the attention of your customers, speaks to them, and promotes action: Stand Out from the Crowd' 7 Tips for Creating a Marketing Message that Sticks.

Marketing Planning and Budgeting

Many businesses often default to allocating a fixed percentage of their revenue as their annual or quarterly marketing spend. However, your marketing budget can work for you more effectively if you have a clear picture of not what you have to spend, but what you should spend it on. And this means having a plan. To help you build a plan and develop a budget that can support and adjust to the results that your plan generates, read: Developing a Marketing Budget for your Small Business' Going Beyond the Spreadsheet.

Use Budget Conscious Marketing Tools & Tactics

Marketing tactics are what you use to execute your marketing plan. Whatever your goals are, whether i's taking a product to market or just trying to drum up new business from existing customers, there are a variety of budget-conscious marketing tactics that can work for your business. The following article provides a snap shot of budget-conscious tactics that have worked for other small business owner: 3 Proven Tips for Growing New Markets on a Tight Budget (Listen, Engage, Educate).

Also remember, that while you may be working to a budget, so too are your customers, so consider these'7 Marketing Tactics that Work in a RecessionSmallBizTrends*.

Explore and Optimize Your Online Marketing

If you operate an online business, your big focus area is generating traffic to your site, this can be done through both online and offline channels. Read'Starting and Growing an Online Business: An Entrepreneur's Checklist for tips.

If you intend to introduce online marketing into your marketing mix - whether it's using email marketing to reach your customers, starting a blog, or taking steps to improve your search engine ranking - check out these guides:

• Getting Started with Email Marketing: The Most Powerful Tool in Your Relationship-Building Toolbox
• Thinking of Starting a Blog? Tips to Help You Start, Maintain & Grow a Small Business Blog!
• Get to the Top! - Tips for Making your Business Web Site More Prominent in an Online Search
• Google AdWords Explained - Growing Your Small Business with this Cost Effective Marketing Tool
• Market Your Business with an Internet Radio Show
• 5 Tips for Marketing Your Business Online - to Get the Biggest ROI

Social Media Marketing

So much has been written about what social media marketing can and can't do for your business. Get beyond the hype with this Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing for the Small Business Owner. It features guidance on how to get started with social media with the right tools and planning; and also includes tips on how to build and engage with your growing community.

Event Marketing

Event marketing can work for all types of small businesses”from a service business to a product-oriented business; from a B-to-B company to a consumer focused company. Whether you own an accounting firm, a yoga studio, an auto repair shop, a bookstore or an office supply store, there's a way to make event marketing pay off for your business. Small business professional, Rieva Lesonsky, provides a closer look at both types of event marketing and how to make the most of them, read: Marketing Your Business with Events.

Public Relations

Is public relations (PR) an essential part of your small business marketing toolkit? It should be. Because, done well, PR can help promote your business for the long term in a way that a paid advertisement never will. Here are some tips for promoting your business through public relations.

• Spread the Word - 7 Tips for Promoting your Business with Public Relations
• Put the Power of Referrals to Work for Your Business
• How to Get Interviewed on TV or Radio
• How to Get Bloggers to Write About your Business
• Boost Your Business's Profile with Public Speaking

Socially Responsible Marketing

If your business is socially responsible, for example if you sell organic produce, green goods, or donate a percentage of your profits to support a cause - and you rely on local customers it's worth marketing this fact. Your customers are more likely to support you if they know that you are giving back to the community. Rieva Lesonsky offers up some ideas finding a cause, promoting it and creating a community around it: Socially Responsible Marketing in Your Community.

Seasonal Marketing

Every business has a busy season, but you can make sure yours stays top of mind during the critical winter holiday and summer seasons with these tips:

• Five Holiday Marketing Tips to Help your Small Business Stay Profitable & Top of Mind this Year!
• 5 Hot Small Business Summer Marketing Tips

Related Resources

• Get more tips and resources from Business.gov's Small Business Marketing Guide.
• Marketing to Seniors and Baby Boomers- Have you Seniorized your Marketing Strategy Lately?
• Successful Government Marketing - A Primer for Small Business
• Marketing to Children: Where is the Line and Who Enforces it?

* Note: Hyperlink directs reader to non-government Web site.

About the Author

Caron Beesley is a small business owner, a writer, and marketing communications consultant. Caron works with the SBA.gov team to promote essential government resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners start-up, grow and succeed. Follow Caron on Twitter: @caronbeesley