Succeed As Your Own Boss

ENDING SMALL BUSINESS FAILURE

  • Home
  • About
  • Book Melinda
  • Consulting
  • SBL Store
    • Books/Workbooks
    • LifePlanningJournal
    • 30 Day Fast Start Program
    • Become Your Own Boss Course
    • Become Your Own Boss Bundle
    • Fix Your Business Masterclass
    • Write A Business Plan Course
    • One-on-One VIP Coaching
  • Subscribe to Podcast
  • #Smallbizchat
    • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Blog
    • Write For Us
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Branding & Marketing / Boost Your Small Business Marketing with the 4 M’s

Boost Your Small Business Marketing with the 4 M’s

January 25, 2021 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Feel free to share...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Boost Your Small Business Marketing with the 4 M’s social imageWhen it comes to marketing your small business, you need to be extremely strategic to ensure that you rise above all the online noise and get the attention you deserve. On way to boost your small business marketing is with the 4 M’s: Message, Market, Method, Money. Let’s dive in and learn more!

Marketing is the engine of your small business. Without effective marketing, you’re just going to get gobbled up in all the online noise. And let’s remember one thing: hope is not a strategy. 

The essence of marketing starts with positioning your business as a solution for a specific niche customer. Once you have a detailed customer profile, you then develop ways to attract the attention of that customer. Start by building a relationship without trying to sell. This will allow you to develop an intimate understanding of your customers’ needs. And your marketing plan should be all about positioning your business as the best option to meet those needs. 

There are four main goals of marketing that you should be concentrating on:

  • Attracting new customers
  • Selling more products to existing customers
  • Selling more expensive products to existing customers
  • Persuading your customers to refer you to additional customers

So, how do you do it? By using the 4M’s of marketing to boost your small business!

The 4 M’s of Marketing for Small Business image

The 4 M’s of Marketing for Small Business 

Message

The story you tell about what you do is critical to the success of your small business.  Your message must be authentic and results-driven. Be careful not to make your message all about industry jargon. Instead, focus on a statement that will drive your target customer to ask more questions. 

For example, “I can fix any sales team in 90 days!” Now, you want to make sure that you don’t make a statement that comes across as hype or unbelievable and that you can actually back up. But don’t be afraid to stake your claim for how your business is the best solution for your target customer.

Market

One of the most common business mistakes I see is small businesses (with limited time and resources) trying to focus on a large market. Doing that, you’ll never get anywhere.

Instead, focus on a specific niche target customer. If everyone can use your product or service, no one will. Work on being a specialist in your industry. You will be able to charge more and you won’t be competing with as many. 

market small business marketing image

I remember, when my company focused on video production. We were going after a government contract to do a video for the U.S. Air Force. One of the firms we were competing against was called Air Force Video Production. Needless to say, they won the contract hands down. 

When you are a specialist, it’s very hard for generalists to compete with you. Niche your business.

Method

How you communicate with your target audience is important. Social media is the most cost-effective marketing tool, but you shouldn’t start with social media. 

Focus on your website first. 

Make sure it represents your brand well and that it is easy to do business with you. Invest in an email marketing program that you integrate with your site to allow you to collect leads that you can keep in touch with and nurture. 

Once you have your target customer identified, you should figure out where that customer spends time online and be a part of the conversation. Remember to “friendraise” first online. Build relationships first, then go for the sale.

Money

If you are not making money, you have an expensive hobby. It’s imperative that you are pricing your products and services to make a profit.  

small business marketing pricing image

Make sure there’s a percentage of your overhead and administrative costs factored into your pricing along with your labor, materials, and shipping. A big mistake that many new small business owners and entrepreneurs make, especially those offering services, is to underprice their products. If your unique selling proposition is clear and your product serves as a solution to your customer’s pain points, pricing will not be an issue.

If you want to succeed in small business today, you need to make sure that your message is converting customers, that you understand what your market needs, are clear on the best methods to communicate with your target customers, and are making money. Do all this strategically and consistently and your business will soar.

Feel free to share...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Filed Under: Branding & Marketing, Grow Your Business Tagged With: boost your small business, cost-effective marketing tool, main goals of marketing, small business marketing strategy, success of your small business

Fix Your Business Now!

Order SmallBizLady's new book Fix Your Business, 90-Day plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business. It includes the 12 Ps of Running a Successful Business and readers will finish the book with a new strategic plan to take their business to the next level.

About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America's leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. Her latest ebook, How To Become a Social Media Ninja; 101 Ways to Dominate Your Competition Online was released in 2012.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Let me send my best blog posts to your inbox each week.

Click Here to Sign Up!

Get 2 FREE Chapters of SmallBizLady’s Book,
"Become Your Own Boss"!

Become Your Own Boss Download Two FREE Chapters

Most Popular Posts

>Seven Ways to be More Profitable in Your Small Business
> 7 Ways to Attract Customers to Your Small Business
> 6 Tips for Managing Small Business Finances
> How to Run a Successful Multilevel Marketing Business
> 10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business With Instagram
> How to Sell on Facebook
> How to Get Over the Fear of Starting a New Business

Featured Videos

“12 Principles of Highly Profitable Businesses with Melinda Emerson” from Sonia Dumas
October 2020

#SmallBizChat LIVE from NYC
May 2017

MSNBC Interview
Top Tip: Never Let a Customer Down

National Speakers Association
Winter Conference 2016

Tune in to Exhale, Wednesdays at 9 pm EST, only on ASPiRE. Join the conversation at #EXHALETV

Fox Business
Five Steps to Becoming a ‘Social Media Ninja

MSNBC
The importance of job mentoring for women

#SmallBizChat Live
National Small Business Week: Q&A

Good Day Philadelphia
Expert Shares Tips on How to Become Your Own Boss

Google
Best Practice for Social Media

Testimonials

Become Your Own Boss is a must read if you’re thinking of launching a business of your own.
Jean Chatzky, Bestselling Author of Money 911 and Financial Editor of NBC’s Today Show
Great step-by-step advice for anyone looking to start their own business.
Andrew C. Taylor, Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Melinda Emerson has written a remarkable book. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to make the transition from working girl to successfully working it, as an entrepreneur.
Cynthia McClain-Hill, Past President, National Association of Women Business Owners
The perfect companion for those planning to go out on their own. Melinda delivers firsthand practical advice on how to be the successful entrepreneur. Read it if you want to get it right the first time.
Kenneth L. Shropshire, Professor at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
If you are looking for a versatile speaker who can talk about how to grow small businesses or get started with social media, look no further.
Heather Van Sickle Executive Director, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Her wit and depth of subject knowledge were entertaining and empowering. Melinda is definitely on our short list of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders we look to invite back in the near future.
Tennille M. Robinson Senior content & Event producer for Inc. magazine
Melinda Emerson, “SmallBizLady,” is an engaging and witty speaker and a great addition to any conference. Her terrific presentation and compelling delivery give people the information they need and want to become their own bosses and grow success… Read more
Laurie Dalton White Conference Director, Pennsylvania Conference for Women
Melinda Emerson has been a fantastic small business and social media resource for the Pitney Bowes team. Not only is she personable and easy to work with, but she also has an innate understanding of the small business audience. My marketing programs … Read more
Justin Amendola, Former VP, Global SMB Digital Strategy, Pitney Bowes

SmallBizChat

  • Twitter

Latest #SmallBizChat

10 Email Marketing Best Practices to Improve Digital Marketing ROI OG

10 Email Marketing Best Practices to Improve Digital Marketing ROI

Email marketing is unquestionably one of the best digital marketing strategies. What if I tell you that you can increase your marketing profit by following some simple tips? Today I’m going to show you how you can skyrocket your email click-throughs and open rates to improve your digital marketing ROI. By following these 10 email […]

Recent Comments

  • Bada Business ibc on 5 Tips for Getting More Online Reviews for Your Small Business
  • Justin Marble on TikTok vs. Snapchat: Which One Is Better for Marketing? [Infographic]
  • sathya on 15 Mistakes Not To Make In Your Digital Marketing Approach
  • Agency Platform Ebrandz on TikTok vs. Snapchat: Which One Is Better for Marketing? [Infographic]
  • Sejal on 15 Mistakes Not To Make In Your Digital Marketing Approach

#SmallBizChat

  • SmallBizChat Archive
  • @SmallBizLady

Business Advice

  • How to Start

SmallBizLady Store

  • Products
  • Free Chapter

Get In Touch

  • Write For Us
  • FAQ
  • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Contact Us
Copyright © 2019
Quintessence Group
PO Box 280
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
(610) 352-0680
Privacy Policy · Refund Policy

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in