Exploring Effective Marketing Platforms for Yard Card Businesses

1. Facebook

Set up A Facebook Page for your Business
If you haven’t announced your business to your friends and family, now is the time

Copy Paste this on your personal account wall

Hi family and friends! I would really appreciate it if you could help me out in an easy way. It only takes a few seconds & this would help out my small business!

Facebook has a really cool feature and it takes seconds to do!

If you could go to: [YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE LINK].
Scroll across the top
Go to ‘COMMUNITY’
Click ‘INVITE FRIENDS’
Click ‘ALL’
Wait 10-15 seconds for the invitations to send
It’s as simple as that!

I appreciate each and every one of you for your support!

Join all your local Community groups, sale groups, and mom groups that allow advertising. Please read the group rules. Facebook is full of local community, selling, and advertising groups. It’s a fantastic place to showcase what you do to a much larger local audience. The key to getting the best from these opportunities is to make sure there is a balance between selling and being an active and authentic member of the group. These are great places to share helpful and valuable advice in the form of your blogs if the group rules allow. There may also be business sponsorship opportunities where for a small fee you can really highlight what your business has to offer!
Share each post on your timeline and ALL your local community groups, sale groups and mom groups.
You can also,
i.      Run a free contest – Invite to like
ii.     Run a sale around holiday weeks
iii.    Have someone recommend you on a Facebook Moms Group

Some Extra Facebook Tips

Facebook gives preference to Video Posts. However, directly upload videos to Facebook than copying a link from YouTube
Use fewer hashtags with each post
1 post/day on Facebook is ideal
The best time to post on Facebook is 9-3 pm on Weekdays

2. Instagram

Instagram (optional) is the perfect platform for visually appealing businesses like yard signs and when done right it is also great for attracting local customers who can purchase from you. I emphasize the done right here though as it is a channel where you really do need quality over quantity when it comes to followers.

Local businesses can use Instagram to get more customers by creating an account for their business and regularly posting engaging content. Some specific ways to do this include:

Follow local people and businesses

First, reach out to everyone you already know in you community and follow them. The second step is to discover new people in your area. Following local people and businesses and interacting with them gives you the opportunity to tell them about your business. Here is a quick tutorial on how to find local people and businesses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnuWo_wcAD8

Use relevant hashtags: Using relevant hashtags on your Instagram posts can help to increase their visibility and make them more discoverable to potential customers. Consider using hashtags that are specific to your business or industry, as well as popular and widely-used hashtags.

To optimize the local reach of your Instagram page, you need to focus on localized hashtags.

This allows people in your area to find your posts and your business through area-specific hashtags. Instead of slapping a generic #storkrental on your outdoor photo’s caption, use a hashtag that includes your location, like #ChartlottesvilleStorkrental.

Geotag Your Posts

This is another strategy that, while seeming obvious, a lot of local businesses forget to do it.

You can geotag individual posts with a location so when people are looking for a business like yours in your area, you can be found

Engage with your followers: Instagram is a social platform, so it’s important to engage with your followers. Respond to comments on your posts, share user-generated content, and run contests or promotions to generate interest and engagement.

Use Instagram Stories: Instagram Stories are a great way to share behind-the-scenes content and give your followers a glimpse into your business. Use Stories to share updates, special offers, and events, and to engage with your followers in a more casual and personal way.

Utilize Instagram ads: Instagram offers a range of advertising options that can help to increase visibility for your business. You can target ads to specific demographics and interests, and track the performance of your ads to see how well they are reaching and engaging potential customers.

Collaborate with influencers: Influencer marketing can be a powerful way to reach potential customers on Instagram. Consider partnering with influencers in your industry who have a following that aligns with your target audience. This can help to increase visibility for your business and also provide social proof to potential customers.

Pro Tips

You can repeat the content for Interest, FAQ, your story, behind the scenes on Social after every 2-3 months.
Use Canva for designing your Instagram or Facebook Posts
Plan for a month’s social in advance. Batching saves a lot of time

3. Directories

List in Local Directories – Online directories can help local businesses by providing them with a platform to list their business information, including their name, address, phone number, and website. This makes it easy for potential customers to find and contact local businesses.

Online directories can also provide local businesses with additional visibility, as they often appear high in search engine results for relevant queries. This can help to increase the chances that potential customers will find and visit a local business’s website.

In addition, some online directories offer additional features, such as reviews and ratings, which can provide social proof and help to build trust with potential customers.

Overall, online directories can be a valuable tool for local businesses, helping them to increase their visibility and reach potential customers. Yelp, Yellow Pages, Linked in, Pinterest, Directories are usually great at getting found on the web

4. Networking

Networking is a crucial marketing activity that can greatly boost your business growth over time. It may take some time to gain momentum, but I encourage you to start networking today because the benefits are fantastic once it takes off. Building your own network of businesses that share the same ideal customer will not only bring you direct referrals, but also provide you with amazing business support as you share best practices and brainstorm new ways of working. You can also team up in your marketing activities to get a greater reach than if you were working alone. In order to get the most out of this opportunity, it’s essential to do your homework regarding your ideal customer and the types of businesses that are the right fit for you. You also need to work hard to build relationships and a network that is active and engaged, but when you do, you will see your local customer base grow and grow.

One of the best ways to network is to get out there and meet people. Prior to social media, this was the best way to get local customers into your business, and it still works really well today. Word of mouth is key to getting the right type of customers, and you need to make sure as many people as possible know who you are, what you do, and why they absolutely need your services. There are many ways you can do this, from making sure every sign goes out with business cards and posters, to having a pop-up stall in the local shopping center. Look for any opportunity to let the world around you know about your business.

Another form of networking is to get involved in local business groups. Not only do the members have a business need for your services, but many of them will host personal events for which your signs and decorations will be perfect. A quick Google search will bring up business networking opportunities. Consider other options as well, like the women’s institute and traders associations. Look for opportunities to speak at their meetings and tell your story about why and how you set up your business. If you have found a successful way of promoting your business, share it with them and discuss how it could be applied to other businesses. By bringing value, you also have the opportunity to share your business story. Most small business owners will actively seek to support other small business owners, and this can bring big rewards further down the line.