Are you looking to promote your business and are overwhelmed with where to start? Here are 5 ways to promote your business.

1. Leverage Social Media Marketing

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn can help build your brand, show off your work, and engage with your audience. So many business owners become overwhelmed with running the business that their social media gets put on the back burner. It’s a free and easy way to get your business out there to hundreds, thousands, sometimes millions of viewers.

Share behind-the-scenes content, customer testimonials, before-and-after shots (especially great for service businesses like cleaning or food).

If you are too busy to keep up with running your social media, I suggest hiring someone. Hiring someone local is best because they can take photos, videos and get a real sense of the business. But if you need cheaper options, Upwork and Fiver are good alternative options.

2. Use Google My Business (GMB)

Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile so people can find you in local searches.

This is a common mistake I see a lot of business owners make. They create their website, set up their social media and forget about creating their Google Business profile.

81% of consumers use Google to evaluate local businesses, and a 63% are likely to check Google reviews before visiting a business.

As a business owner you want to get reviews, add photos, update hours, and post updates. Also do not wait for customers and clients to review, ask for them, send emails and texts letting them know their review really helps a business grow. A great way is to create some reward like a discount for leaving a review.

3. Referral Incentives & Word of Mouth

Encourage happy customers to refer others by offering discounts or perks.

Word of mouth is still one of the most powerful tools—people trust people.

One of the best referral programs is to offer a discount to your frequent customer and to the one they are bringing in. For example if customer A brings in their friend,customer B, both people get a discount. While you might lose a little profit on that exact sale, you have not only made customer A happy and proud to bring in their friend to a new business, you now have a high potential of gaining customer B as a repeat customer.

4. Local Partnerships & Events

Team up with local businesses, sponsor community events, or attend farmers markets, festivals, and pop-ups.

Networking and being visible in the community can help a business build local support.

Donate your time to other organizations and businesses, donate money if you have it and be advocates for other businesses so they can be advocates for you.

I can’t tell you how networking and being involved in the community has helped me grow personally and professionally.

5. Online Ads (Targeted & Local)

Invest in Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram ads, and even platforms like Nextdoor to target specific areas and demographics.

Online ads are not for everyone and take work. If you do not know what you are doing in this area please consult with someone in marketing, watch youtube video or read up on this topic on the internet. While businesses can have great success with it, if you don’t know what you are doing, you can waste a lot of money and time as well.

Start small, test, and refine what works.

And those are my top 5 reliable ways to promote your business. Would love to hear what has worked for you in the comments so we can help each other learn as well.

Akitso is working to help restaurants in San Diego. #sandiego #restaurant