How to Be Noticed in the Market 

Whether you’re an established company or a budding new business, standing out in your local market is key to bringing in new customers. By getting your name out in the community, you build relationships that could lead to transformative business opportunities. 

Because not everyone’s budget affords them a Super Bowl commercial, businesses have to get creative for how they get noticed. Ultimately, they have to be bold, resourceful, and unique. 

That being said, here are a few ways to help you make tread way and get noticed in the market.  

Monitor and Update Your Online Presence 

Local and global companies alike must keep a consistent eye on their online footprint. Between websites, social media, and user reviews, consumers and potential customers have a variety of ways to check out your business online.  

If one of them stumbles upon an outdated website or a non-existent social media profile, they may question your authority. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to get noticed is by keeping your entire online footprint up to date. By doing so, you build trust and legitimacy. 

Research Your Competitors 

It’s likely that you know what your competitors offer when it comes to pricing, services, and products. But do you know how their marketing and messaging differs from yours? 

One of the biggest mistakes a business can make is blending into the crowd with marketing. Take time to research your competitors’ ads, website, and social media to get a good understanding of what they’re promoting. Then, purposefully position your company in a unique and opposite way.  

This research can show you what gaps your competitors are missing and how you can stand out in the market. 

Make Your Business Personal 

Especially for local companies, putting a face to a name is important. Potential customers will better relate to your business if they can see and even meet the people behind it.  

Oftentimes, smaller companies inflate the size of their business – whether its in their tagline or on their website – because they believe it makes their company appear more successful. But if your target market is a local customer, then this approach can actually scare them off.  

Between getting out in the community and networking and posting images on social media of your staff, the more you can get your face (or faces) out there, the more noticeable and relatable your company will be. Join a Rotary Club or attend networking events to ensure your making your business as personal as possible.  

Seek Feedback 

One of the best ways to be noticed in the market is by soliciting feedback from former and current customers. If you’re neglecting to do so, you could be missing out on many opportunities to be seen and heard in the community. 

As previously stated, potential leads and customers love looking for others’ experiences via online reviews and testimonials. If you have few (or none) posted online or on your site, it could make them nervous that you’re not trustworthy and turn to a competitor. 

Learn About and Invest In SEO 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to how many visitors (known as “traffic”) are coming to your site as a result of searching online for something related to your business.  

For example, if you own a cell phone repair shop, and someone searches “cell phone repair near me”, does your company’s name appear at the top of the Search Engine Results Page? Does your name appear at all? This is where SEO comes in. 

When someone searches for your company, consider the kinds of phrases they’re typing in. This can shape your SEO strategy – which consists of your website’s content and its “findability” on Google, among many other factors.  

Voice search is more popular than ever and is changing the way businesses appear on search engines. One study predicts that 42.2% of US internet users in 2021 will be using a voice assistant to complete their searches. Look in to some SEO strategies for how to stay on top of this trend. 

SEO is complex and requires a good amount of training to truly master. If you don’t have time to do this, work with an SEO consultant or agency to ensure your website is easily found on Google and appears when people search for phrases related to your business. 

Use these tips to create a market strategy. You don’t have to have an unlimited budget to get noticed. You just have to be creative and commit to your approach.