Marketing starts with connections and ends with interactions. The sooner and more efficiently you’re able to reach your clientele, the better results and more patronage you will experience as a result. By looking to those who have been through exactly what you’re going through — and have come out on the other side successful — you’ll bypass the trial-and-error phase of marketing and learn from their mistakes, gleaning valuable advice from industry professionals.

As often explained by successful experienced business owners, the first step in any entrepreneur’s marketing strategy is fleshing out what you stand for. What do you want to express with these values and how do you want them to be interpreted by potential clients? The key to marketing for small businesses is to thoroughly understand your company’s reason for being (what you exist to provide), then to share that with the world. If you want your campaign to produce growth, you should set goals that don’t make monetary gain your only focus. By understanding your actual core objective, drive will produce more drive as you meet your goals within the time limit you set for yourself.

For example, let’s say you set a goal to get 500 views on your new video in two weeks’ time. This is something that can be easily obtained just by working hard to spread the message. The sales will come in; just give them time. Depending on the size and age of your business, your goals should flex based on the next step in your company’s growth.

Lastly, in today’s climate you always need to make sure you’re marketing, hiring, and expanding with technology in mind. With the number of platforms to roll out your campaign constantly expanding, both online and otherwise, advertising in new and unique ways has never been easier or more engaging. With so many options available, there is bound to be a platform that’s just right for your business today.