No matter if you’re just getting started with your business or you’ve been going for years, everyone is feeling the heat from growing competition.
If you’ve stepped foot on Facebook or Instagram recently, you know how many get-rich-quick marketing “gurus” are out there trying to claim they have the best-kept secret of marketing to finally make moves with your business.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a single action that can grow your brand overnight. These things take time. Advertising “hacks” are nothing but a buzzword, so don’t lose sight of what’s most important with your brand.
As long as you’re true to your message and your customers, the right audience will come naturally.
Though there’s no one-size-fits-all magical trick to skyrocket brand growth, there are some lesser-known tricks that provide effective solutions. No, these won’t transform your business overnight.
Marketing is a marathon, not a spring. This list of 8 hidden secrets for advertising will not only boost your brand but build better relationships with your audience. A win/win all around.
1. Paid Social Promotions
A lot of brands say they tried Facebook ads, and they didn’t have any luck. So what did they do? They never tried them again. This is a big mistake. Facebook and other social media promotions are cheap.
They literally cost pennies, in some cases, and the possibilities are endless. Social media algorithms are changing by the day. It’s harder than ever to get your posts out organically to your own followers, let alone new ones.
If you could get your message out there for under $50 in front of thousands of users, you’d do it. That’s what Facebook and Instagram marketing is. The secret is in the audience tool.
Facebook gives you the option of fully customizing your promotion audience, and this is a big help. Make sure you lock in your demographic, their interests, and geographical locations before you hit launch.
2. Engage Using the 80/20 Rule
Your marketing team posts every day on Twitter, but how often do they interact with customers or other brands? We’ve all seen funny posts from companies go viral after a snarky customer service member published something unique.
This type of engagement speaks volumes for your audience, and they want to hear from you in ways that don’t involve self-promotion.
A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule. This started as a rule for bloggers promoting themselves on social media, but it’s applicable to any business.
Basically, you should only promote your business and your own content 20% of the time. The other 80% is all for interacting with other brands, customers, and content.
3. Video Marketing
Video marketing is the new content marketing. While text was king a few years ago, it’s all about video today. If you’ve checked social media recently, you’ll see how many videos are going viral and getting attention.
We aren’t talking about silly prank videos (unless that fits your brand), but we are talking about content-rich videos that deliver to your ideal customer.
Why are videos so successful? First, they literally stop users in their tracks. They’re more eye-catching than pictures, and they’re easy to watch on the go. Next, they let users interact with your company face-to-face.
Showing your best stories, products, and services in an interesting way is sure to attract the right attention.
4. Influencer Marketing
Another up-and-coming if not already in full swing marketing trick is influencer marketing. An influencer is anyone online with an audience, big or small. These are usually bloggers, gurus, or YouTubers, and they have their own value to offer your marketing strategy.
When it comes to influencer marketing, you have the chance to promote your products and services through a new voice.
The key to influencer marketing is simpler than you think: don’t fall for pretty numbers. Just because an influencer has 100k social media followers do not mean he or she is a good fit. Instead, look for an audience that is engaged with the influencer, and an audience that aligns with your brand.
5. Clear Calls to Actions
While many marketers and business owner claim to have their calls to action (CTA) nailed down tight, they probably don’t. If you have a landing page that isn’t converting, you should look at your CTAs. People need clear actions to make decisions.
What goes into an influential CTA? Use actionable verbs and phrases. Don’t be too wordy, and know where to place your CTAs. Never use more than one on the same page.
Finally, consider the sales funnel. Maybe having a “Buy now” CTA on the home page isn’t the best plan, but a “Sign up for our newsletter” is more effective.
6. Offer Something Free
People love free stuff. Who doesn’t? If you have an inexpensive product or downloadable you can offer, this is a great way to build your mailing list and your brand. You can offer this as a bonus for those who sign up for your service or make a purchase, or you can use it as an opt-in for your email list.
Even if you think you have nothing to offer for free, you do. You can include a how-to guide, a tutorial video, a free recipe, whatever makes sense for your business.
These things don’t take a lot of time or money, but they have a big pay off.
7. Tell a Story
The number one biggest marketing mistake is focusing too much on your logo or colors and ignoring the story. We think in stories, and these are the connections that cause us to buy new things.
If your brand doesn’t tell a compelling story, nobody will buy from you.
As much as we think we’re all logical shoppers, science tells us otherwise. We shop with our emotions. What emotions are you pulling in your audience?
Are you an eco-friendly brand with a global reach? Are you a rags-to-riches startup that makes life easier? Grab your story and don’t let it go.
8. Be Consistent
The last marketing secret isn’t a secret at all, yet so many new brands fail at it. You need to be consistent. Your branding is a promise to your customers.
It’s letting them know that they can come to expect a certain level of quality and service when they choose you over the competition. If you aren’t consistent in your messaging, promotions, and service, you’ll lose that customer base quickly.
A great way to keep your whole team consistent is by creating a brand style guide. This will include things that you would expect like logos, colors, and fonts, but it won’t stop there.
Also add information about your tone, online messaging, and how you want to relate to your audience. This way, you can all continue onward as a united front.
Final Thoughts
Strong branding takes time. These tips above are lesser-known ways to promote your brand long-term. While you likely won’t go viral by using these alone, you will have a better chance of making it in this competitive marketplace.
Marketing isn’t rocket science. Much of it comes down to people and how you interact with others.
Your brand needs to relate on a deeper level to those you’re trying to attract. If it falls flat, nobody will care about your products or services in the first place.
