Small Business Marketing

Learn Marketing Basics

These resources provide general info on marketing a small business.

Tools for Online Success

• Marketing and Advertising Basics
  How-to guides for small business owners covering planning, market research, and advertising.
• Online Marketing and Advertising
  Guide to marketing and advertising rules and regulations that ensure online advertising is fair and truthful.
• Small Business Marketing Resource Library
  Articles, how-to guides and tools covering planning, market research, sales, and web marketing.
• Green Marketing Basics
  Learn how to certify and promote your products or services as environmentally-friendly.
• Online Course: Marketing & Advertising
  Free course on how to market and advertise your small business.
• Video Playlist: Strategies for Growth: Marketing
  Entrepreneurs explain successful marketing techniques.

Google and the Small Business Administration have partnered to educate
local businesses about how to succeed online. Each video
describes how a
small business owner successfully uses the internet to grow
its business.

This video series includes:


Establish your Online Presence

Display Imagery on Your Website

Engage Customers with a Website

Interact with Your Community Using Free Marketing

Promote Using Free Online Marketing

Educate Your Customers Using Free Marketing

Grow with Paid Online Advertising

Measure Results with Web Analytics

Conduct Market Research

Market research is the process of gathering and analyzing data about
your customers and competitors.  Before starting any marketing effort, you should do some basic market research to ensure you are reaching the right audience and differentiating your product or service
from your competitors’.

Visit the Market Research Guide to get started doing market research.

Develop a Marketing Plan

Marketing takes time and money. Developing a solid marketing plan is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you are spending marketing dollars wisely.

• How to Create a Marketing Plan
  Develop your marketing and plan and review sample marketing plans.
• Free Sample Marketing Plans
  Mplan is a commercial site providing access to over 70 free sample marketing plans.
• 20 Marketing Tips Every Entrepreneur Should Know
  Tips to help you research. plan, develop and price marketing campaigns.

Comply with Advertising Laws

Federal, state and local governments regulate different forms of advertising. Before starting a marketing campaign or even putting up sign in front of your store, you should familiarize yourself with some basic rules for advertising.