Ideas for Marketing Your Rural Small Business
- Amy Gilpin
- May 17, 2018
- 2 min read
Almost every small business owner will answer the question ‘Do you want more customers?’ with YES!
Yet many struggle to develop marketing strategies that are successful for their business. Rural small business owners face additional challenges when developing their marketing strategies, including logistical challenges and increased costs. Here are some ways to customize a few marketing techniques to work for your rural small business.
1. Direct Mail
‘Snail Mail’ is not normally the first thing that comes to mind when you think about marketing in the modern business world. It is, however, a very effective tool. With the ever-increasing amount of scams and phishing campaigns arriving in our inboxes daily, rural small business owners may find regular post mail is more likely to be read by potential customers.
Target your direct mail to a few clients or prospective clients each month to keep costs down.
Identify a few prospects and send them a hand-written card introducing your business.
Send a hand-written card or note to your clients on their special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
Brochures and business cards can be placed strategically at other local businesses or sent direct to potential clients through regular mail.
2. Event Marketing
Trade shows, conferences, and industry events are a great way to meet prospects and to connect with fellow business owners. Again, being a rural small business, you’ll need to be creative in order to keep costs down.
Look into virtual conferences. Consider offering to deliver a keynote speech.
Organize a webinar instead of an in-person gathering by using social media and email to promote it. Google Hangouts is a free and easy to use platform for delivering webinars.
Consider working with non-competing businesses and local municipal government to plan an annual event for your region.
3. Billboard Advertising
This is generally an expensive option for small business, in particular, for rural small businesses. Small roadside signs can be an effective option, rather than the large billboards along highways. You may also want to consider investing in video marketing. Research shows that consumers are 85% more likely to buy a product or service after watching a video about it.
4. Local Marketing
With access to the internet, the term ‘local’ has taken on new meaning for many rural small business owners.
Build small groups of highly engaged prospects and clients by clearly explaining your company’s value proposition on your website, making sure you address your ideal customer’s pain points.
Optimize your website with terms that appeal to your ideal customer.
Invite all your customers to connect with your small business on social media, and then reward them for doing so.
Encourage referrals and provide a reward for successful referrals.
The bottom line is that your business only works hard if you do. AG Small Business Services works hard to provide services that make a difference in the lives of rural small business owners.
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