Marketing your business is an exciting part of business ownership. You are able to promote on various channels and the best part is that there are endless combinations of marketing. Whichever avenue you choose, people will find out about your business. Finding out how to correctly market your business is the tricky part. In general, making mistakes can be a positive thing (making a mistake and learning from it). However, if possible, it is best to save your energy, time, and money. Here are 4 common marketing mistakes your business may be making.

1. Not Knowing Your Unique Selling Proposition

Your business is not similar to other businesses. Which is good, because if your business was, then you probably wouldn’t have been in business in the first place. You want to highlight this unique part of your business when you create your marketing plan. That way, you are able to build your initial brand awareness campaign centered on that Unique Selling Proposition.

2. Not Having A Marketing Plan

With the vast amount of marketing information available at your fingertips, it’s without question that you should have a solid marketing plan for your business, right? Without a solid marketing plan in place, chances are you will waste a lot of time and money in the place. You will have your content and information out there, but it most likely won’t reach your target audience. A marketing plan will help you assess your market, determine your target audience, and select appropriate marketing avenues for your business.

3. Not Using Social Media

Social media is without a doubt popular now. With over 2.8 billion users on social media around the globe, it has quickly become one of the most affordable and effective marketing techniques for all businesses, no matter the size. Maximizing your efforts on social media can prove to be super beneficial if you use it correctly. Being active and responsive towards your followers and their questions can increase the credibility of your business. This along with networking with influencers can encourage more people to choose your brand over others.

4. Underestimating Word Of Mouth Marketing

Word of mouth marketing is free! It’s by far the most cost effective form of marketing, because it happens naturally. Providing excellent care and service to your customers can improve the general feel of your business. Your customers will be very content with your work and in turn will tell their family, friends, and colleagues of how well they were treated. Incentivizing your customers with coupons or bonuses can also be beneficial since it gives them a reason to bring in new people as well as creates ongoing repeat business.