Small Business Marketing Ideas from the Big Brands
- Consider publishing videos of your employees on YouTube. Every company can’t be Old Spice, but you can showcase your products and services through short videos featuring customers talking about their experiences. You can also show videos about your activities in the community.
Walmart features employee videos on YouTube.
- Display photos of products and people on Instagram.
Starbucks show interesting product placement shots.
- Spotlight your locations and unique features on Vine.Spotlight your locations and unique features on Vine.
Other Tactics
- Conduct contests. You don’t have to have a big budget. You can even partner with other companies who offer complementary products and create a unique package that drives engagement for all the businesses.
Whichever of these methods you try, there are several marketing advantages to being a small versus a large business. You can be much more nimble and can implement ideas in days or weeks rather than months, thanks to fewer layers of management and streamlined approval processes. You can be closer to customers because you are probably helping to support them day in and day out. If necessary, you can rebrand yourself if a concept does not work or the company has evolved in a different direction. Lastly, it is likely you are not weighed down by the past and are more willing to try new and innovative tactics.
In closing, one of the best lessons comes from GE. In recent years, marketing has made the company accessible, so it feels human and approachable. There is also a strong culture with people feeling passionate about what they do. And they established familiarity; making the brand real to a diverse audience. Regardless of the size of your company, if you could do the same, you’d be a marketing superhero.
What lessons have you taken from big brands and applied to your marketing?
