Even if you run you business according to the tax year, a new year is always symbolic of a new start. This is a great opportunity to do some of the things you may have been putting off, like coming up with a new and innovative marketing strategy to see you through the year and get maximum return on your investment.

Start out by looking at what you already have – how well has it been working for you? Pick out the good points, then analyse the ones where yo could be doing more. Then consult with your marketing agency to come up with your marketing plan for the year. Make sure you stick to it once it is in place, and share it with your employees so that everybody knows what they are working towards and what you want them to achieve. You could choose to set KPIs for teams and individuals so everyone is accountable.

Businesses that advertise online have a much better opportunity of doing well than businesses that don’t. This is because so many people now use the internet, in their everyday lives and when they are hoping to find products to buy. When you are marketing your business in an online environment, consumers will be able to find it whenever they want.

You should have a good website; this is the main part of online marketing. However, it is also important that you use other methods of making people aware of your website. Directing people towards it is important, so using PPC and social media will be a real help here. For example, if you are on social media, people who already know your business name might carry out known searches for you. PPC will help you to achieve conversions by taking people through to your website when they are looking to buy.

There is more to being on social media than simply posting every now and again. Social media is a tool designed to engage and draw in your audience, meaning that it needs to be an ongoing effort. There are many arguments for being on social media, but at the same time, if you don’t have the time to dedicate to it, then it might be better not to be on social media at all.

One good solution is to think about working with a social media marketing agency. Many web marketing agencies will offer this service, and it doesn’t need to be overly expensive. They will generally have different packages for different levels of service, allowing you to hand over everything to them, or do some of your own posting as well. The decision is entirely yours.

It is great for your business if you are on social media, opening up your business to a new audience. If you can, it is something you should really think about.

Online and offline marketing might feel like two separate entities, but when they are for the same business, they simply can’t be. They will need to be considered as part of the same overall strategy, achieving the same results. This means that all online and offline material has to be recognisable as your brand.

To do this, you should use your logo consistently on all publications. This will help you to become more recognisable, so that people will realise who you are straight away. Your logo should be clearly visible, usually used in the top left hand corner.

You should also make sure you design work is similar. Use the same colours and use similar patterns, so that people who have seen your website would also recognise you from a poster. This is the only way you are ever going to build up authority and grow into a well known, successful brand.

A website is a good marketing tool, but should you also use it to sell your products? If people are really engaged with your products or services and are ready to buy, it only makes sense that they should be able to buy online, directly from you. This is all part of the marketing process and driving people further along the sales funnel – it benefits you and your consumers, because they can get what they want straight away.

You must remember that an eCommerce website might be more expensive to have built. It is likely that it will be easier to market though, as people will take notice of a site where they can immediately get what they want. You must consider your product and your audience though. Some businesses lend themselves to eCommerce and others don’t. Think about how you audience use your website, what they want to get from it, and use this to decide.

Social media is an excellent tool for businesses and it is now for the most part expected that you should be using social media platforms regularly. It shows that your business is active and current – recent activity helps give your customers more confidence in you. Social media is an excellent tool for raising the profile of your brand and generating some brand awareness.

However, you need to be realistic about what social media can do for your business. If you think it is a tool where you can make lots of money and convert people, think again. It won’t do that for your business, unless you are running a paid campaign, and even then, it may not be as effective at converting as other marketing methods.

That’s not to say social media isn’t useful. It makes you memorable and gives your business a personality. This will begin to affect sales over time, but it’s hard to monitor. Don’t be expecting huge growth in a short space of time.

A business needs to be marketed in many different ways to make it as successful as possible. It should have a strong online presence, it might also benefit from some form of print advertising, and it should definitely market itself in situ as well. This means the things like ensuring customers have a great all-round experience, and it is possible to get business from passing footfall by making sure people know the business exists. It is as much a brand awareness exercise as anything else, and it is one of the most important types of marketing activity you can carry out because it helps win those loyal customers who keep coming back due to the excellent experience your business provides.

Have you thought about using commercial umbrellas? They may not be the first thing you think about when marketing your business, but the rewards can be significant. For starters, using commercial umbrellas is an instant way to update and improve the general ambience and make your building look appealing and inviting. This is especially important if you are a business like a restaurant of a cafe, where people are going to be sold on the atmosphere. They may also benefit businesses like shops, hairdressers and any other place where people go to make use of a particular service. The umbrella will add shade and create a pleasant appearance that your customers will enjoy.

Why are commercial umbrellas a useful marketing tool? 

• You can benefit from a better ambience, meaning customers are more likely to enjoy the experience and come back again.
• There will be more shade, making it cooler inside and outside the building. You can save money on your air conditioning costs. Again, this helps customers by creating a better ambience for them.
• You can get the umbrella branded. This shows your business off, making sure people know you are there and lodging your business in their minds. When they see your logo repeatedly, they are more likely to think of you as a viable option.
• You can also use umbrellas branded by product suppliers. For a bar or restaurant, this may be types of drink or food that you sell. If people recognise the brand, they are more likely to think of you as a viable brand because you are associated with them.

It’s a great brand awareness exercise, making sure people know about your business, but in a way that isn’t pushy or too salesy. It just lets people know you are there.

Choosing a commercial umbrella – some key considerations 

A commercial umbrella is a largely bespoke product that can be altered depending on your needs. You should get your patio or outdoor space measured up by a professional supplier and installer, then get them to complete the work as well if you are happy. You shouldn’t fit an umbrella yourself, especially a more complex design where there are lots of moving parts – this could become a health and safety concern in a commercial environment. Choose a company with a good reputation and a wide range of umbrellas to choose.

Businesses and agencies may decide to take on a web marketing specialist or manager. It is a component of business that is becoming increasingly important, as marketing on the internet is an important component of a business marketing plan.

If you can afdord to, take on someone who has experience. They will hit the ground running in the role, helping you manage your web marketing strategy from the off.

Businesses with limited money may prefer to take on a trainee. The downside of this is the experience they can bring. You will also need to arrange training, making sure they are skilled in web marketing and have a good overview of the digital sphere. The other option is to use an agency, who can work with you to design a clear marketing strategy that will serve your business well. Choose an agency who specialise in your field, and have a preliminary meeting to discuss your marketing aims.

A website needs to look appealing in order to draw people in. It should show off your business to its full potential, making your customers see how good your products and services look. This means that your website needs to be beautiful, bright and appealing.

You can use a number of web marketing techniques – PPC, SEO, social media etc. – but if your website does not look good, you will not be able to convert people. They need to be shown a beautiful website in order to take a leap of faith and order/ enquire.

Choose a web design agency with a good reputation to build your beautiful website for you. You can do as much as you like with template but it just isn’t going to look professional enough to make people trust you. Use images and photography that is clear, unique and strong to make people notice you – images of your own work and products work very well.

Social media is a great way to promote your business and products. It has users all over the world and can really help you to tap into a market you may not otherwise be able to reach. It helps embed your business and your brand into people’s everyday lives, making you a go-to choice for them.

Social media is only good when it is done correctly, though. You shouldn’t attempt to embark on a social media marketing journey unless you have a clear strategy. Begin with general aims – think about what you want to achieve from your social media. You may want to get more sales from your website or you might want to get more engagement to raise brand awareness. Whatever it is, you should make sure you have a clear aim, as this is the only way you will be able to measure success and adapt your strategy where appropriate.