Effective Marketing Strategies For Small To Medium Businesses 🍡
Price is not just the cost of the product (i.e., what you pay for the product) with a markup on top to target an agreeable margin. This is a very old-fashioned view of pricing and one that leads many small business owners to financial ruin. We want you to avoid this common trap. Price is a very important profit driver for small businesses or early-stage startups. In fact, a 1% improvement in pricing increases profits by 6%. So you need to set your prices correctly and avoid guessing. The loss or gains are too big to guess. You need effective pricing, sales, and marketing strategies for your small business.
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So, in this article, we will tackle the topic of how to define pricing in marketing for small businesses. We will also discuss the different perspectives on price so that you know the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches and methodologies.
We argue that even smaller businesses should make sure that the price of a good or service is a price that the customer is willing to pay and a price that provides revenue for the company. At Value Culture, we believe that setting a price for products or services is one of the most significant decisions that a small business can make.
By the end of this article, you’ll understand exactly how to define pricing in marketing and how to set and manage prices to ensure profitable revenue growth for your business in the best way possible.
What makes effective marketing strategies for a small business?
Small businesses can determine the effectiveness of their marketing strategies through various key indicators and performance metrics. For starters, tracking website analytics is essential. By using tools like Google Analytics, businesses can monitor website traffic, user behaviour, and conversion rates. An increase in website traffic and engagement, along with a rise in conversions, indicates that the marketing efforts are resonating with the target audience.
Setting clear and measurable goals is crucial. Whether it’s increasing sales, generating leads, or boosting brand awareness, defining specific objectives helps businesses assess the success of their marketing strategies. Regularly measuring progress towards these goals enables them to adapt and refine their approach if necessary.
Customer feedback and satisfaction play a vital role in gauging marketing effectiveness. Small businesses can gather feedback through surveys, social media, or customer reviews. Positive feedback and repeat business suggest that the marketing strategies are successful in attracting and retaining customers. Conversely, negative feedback can point to areas that need improvement in the marketing approach.
5 Effective Marketing Strategies For A Small Business To Thrive
By implementing these effective marketing strategies for a small business, they can build brand awareness, attract new customers, and foster loyalty, leading to sustainable growth and success:
1. Content Marketing: Create valuable and relevant content, such as blog posts, articles, videos, and infographics, that address your target audience’s pain points and interests. Content marketing establishes your expertise, improves brand visibility, and attracts organic traffic to your website.
2. Social Media Engagement: Leverage social media platforms to connect with your audience, build relationships, and foster brand loyalty. Engage in meaningful conversations, respond to comments and messages promptly, and share engaging content that encourages sharing and interaction.
3. Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested prospects and existing customers. Send personalised and valuable content directly to their inboxes, including promotions, newsletters, and exclusive offers. Email marketing is cost-effective, highly targeted, and can lead to increased customer retention and sales.
4. Influencer Marketing: Partner with influencers in your industry or niche who have a strong following and influence over your target audience. Their endorsement can boost your brand credibility, widen your reach, and generate leads and sales.
5. Local SEO: Optimise your online presence for local searches by listing your business on Google My Business and other local directories. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and include location-based keywords in your content. Local SEO helps drive foot traffic to your physical store and attracts local customers who are actively searching for your products or services.
Effective Pricing Strategies For A Small Business
Pricing is the method of identifying the value a small business can get in exchange for the goods and services they sell. As a small business owner, you hopefully sell goods or services for a price that your target market is willing to pay. Not only that but at a price that generates good margins for your business.
However, this is not always the story. And, in many instances, pricing is the number one reason why many small businesses fail. Price too high and you price yourself out of the market. Price too low and you forever struggle to sell above costs and eat into your hard-earned revenue and profits.
Knowing this then, below are key factors to consider the next time you set a price for a new product or service:
- Nature of the goods or service
- Price of similar goods or services in the market
- Target market
- Cost of production (such as raw material cost, labour cost, machinery cost, inventory cost, shipping, etc.
- External factors (such as the economy, legal issues, government policies, etc.)
What are the objectives for SME pricing and marketing strategy?
The objective of pricing should be to give you direction on where to take the business as it grows. However, often the objective of pricing devolves into keeping your head above water or fighting with competitors on price to avoid market share grabs.
1. To survive in the market
A major pricing objective of a small business is to set prices as best you can. Price at the early stage of business is a great mechanism to help you gain traction in a new market without alerting opportunistic competitors to what you are doing.
Many companies now face the threat of price wars with larger competitors or have to deal with shifting customer buying behaviour, tastes, preferences, etc. A healthy price objective for small businesses, then, should be to set a price that doesn’t mean that are selling below costs.
In the early days, this may mean a price point that covers both the fixed and variable costs you incur during this initial phase. But don’t stop there. On top of cost considerations, try to incorporate the following in your price-setting logic:
- Develop your brand name to build recognition for your small business and to build resilience if a price war ensues.
- Find unique values which your business can add to stand out in the marketplace.
- Provide products or services that are exclusive to your business to ensure further protection from falling prices.
- Eliminate high-maintenance goods and determine what customers do and don’t want through market research.
2. Maximise the current margins
Many smaller businesses forget to consider the supply and demand dynamic in the market and in turn, forgo lots of hard-earned margins. Remember, even for a small business, you want to try and set your price in line with the demand for the product and the substitutes that are available to satisfy that demand.
The higher the demand, the higher the price will be and the more money you will make. The best examples are the seasonal supply and demand of goods and services.
Once you understand consumer demand within your market, review your own costs, supply chain, and profit goals as a way to inform your choice of pricing strategy. Below are a few pricing models to consider:
- Cost-plus pricing: The selling price is determined by adding a markup to the unit cost.
- Competitive pricing: Setting a price based on the price of the competition.
- Value-based pricing: The price is based on the perceived or estimated value of a product or service.
- Price skimming: Setting the price high initially and then lowering it as competitors enter the market.
- Penetration pricing: The price is set low to rapidly enter a competitive market and provoke word-of-mouth recommendations, only to be raised later.
3. Gaining enough market share quickly enough to stay alive and avoid a price war
A price war is when competitors continually lower their prices to undercut one another and gain market share. This almost never works out in a small business’ favour, especially when competing against globalised pricing.
Many smaller businesses offer low prices for their products because they assume this will capture a bigger market share quickly. However, what it actually does is alert competitors that you want to compete on price and the bigger operators use their scale to crush you.
It is highly likely that the market you operate in is becoming more mature. This may mean that there is some element of oligopolistic competition in your market which in turn is encouraging more finesse in devising marketing strategies.
So, when you start out try to manage the urge to lower prices and consider the changing competitive landscape. Lowering prices may help you increase volumes now, but it is a short-term move and there is no guarantee that it’ll work. What’s more, you can no way compete with bigger firms that can easily leverage their economies of scale to win price wars and beat you into submission.
Also, supplier consolidation is a big trend in Australia and many businesses are using this approach to gain market dominance quickly. A small business can’t do this. Take note, to consider all scenarios when setting low prices as often the consequences are not worth the loss.
4. Quality perceived by the customers on the product/service
It is very common for small business owners to set product prices or adjust prices based on their costs or by exclusively looking at the competitor’s pricing. This is a flawed approach and neglects the total economic whole value of your offer to customers.
Consider instead then what the maximum price of your product is (your price ceiling) and work back from there (i.e., the total value to the customer minus the barrier to purchase). Ask yourself: Are you serving price-conscious consumers or an affluent niche? What are the value-added services, if any? How do you compare to your competitors?
Maybe try a minor price change for low-risk products. How do your customers respond to changes in price or a new price in the market? How does demand change when nothing changes but the price? What is the highest price the market will bear?
Often, you will find that your customers tolerate a price change much better than you thought they would. However, be prepared to justify the price change, especially if it’s an increase. No one is happy about paying a higher price when it isn’t justified. So, if the reason behind the increase is you want to increase your profitability, this doesn’t always go down well with customers.
How To Set Prices And Effective Marketing Strategies For Your Small Business
The notion of price differs depending on the frame of mind from which it is being viewed. Let’s define pricing in marketing from different perspectives.
Developing Effective Marketing Strategies For Small Business: Customer’s Perspective
How do you define pricing in marketing from the customer’s perspective? The customer uses various criteria to identify how much they are willing to spend, or how much they are willing to pay, to satisfy their needs. Normally, the customer wants to pay as little as possible.
For the company, it can either increase the perceived benefits or decrease the perceived costs to increase value. These two components should be considered as elements of price.
However, to some degree, perceived benefits are the opposite of the perceived costs. For instance, paying a higher price for an item is remunerated by having that expensive product displayed in one’s home. Other perceived benefits related to the price-value equations are convenience, status, brand, the deal, choice and quality.
On the other hand, perceived costs consist of the actual price tag printed on the product and other additional factors. As mentioned, perceived costs are the exact opposite of the benefits.
In the end, it is favourable to look at the price from the customer’s viewpoint because it helps define value which is the most vital ground for building a competitive advantage.
Developing Effective Marketing Strategies For Small Business: Society’s Perspective
How do you define pricing in marketing from society’s perspective? Taken from the barter method (or exchanging of goods of the same value), the monetary structure of each society gives a more convenient way to buy goods and gather wealth.
The two distinct ways that price plays in society are a rational man and an irrational man. The first one suggests that the outcome of price manipulation is predictable (the basic belief underlying economic theory). The second one acknowledges that man’s reaction to price is unpredictable at times. And pretesting price manipulation is a vital task.
Why is Price Essential to Marketers?
Pricing directly affects the revenue of the business, thus, setting the right price is important to a small business’ success.
Price is essential to small business owners and marketers alike. However, the biggest difference between getting value-based pricing right and wrong it’s how a small business assesses the value that customers see in their products and the customer’s willingness to purchase the product or service.
Pricing Strategy as a Marketing Tool
Pricing strategy is a crucial component of effective marketing strategies for small businesses. It’s not just about setting a number; it’s about how that number influences customer perceptions and behaviours. Let’s delve into how pricing can be wielded as a powerful marketing tool.
Firstly, consider value-based pricing. This approach pegs prices to the perceived value of a product or service in the eyes of the customer. For example, a boutique coffee shop might charge a premium for its specialty blends because customers perceive higher value due to the unique flavor profiles and ambiance.
Alternatively, competitive pricing involves setting prices based on what competitors are charging. This can be effective for small businesses entering saturated markets where price sensitivity is high. For instance, a new online clothing store might strategically undercut competitors’ prices to attract budget-conscious shoppers.
Psychological pricing techniques leverage human psychology to influence purchasing decisions. This includes strategies like using charm prices (e.g., $9.99 instead of $10) or bundle pricing (e.g., buy one, get one free). Such tactics can create the perception of a better deal, driving sales and enhancing brand loyalty.
Moreover, pricing transparency builds trust with customers, a cornerstone of effective marketing. By clearly communicating pricing structures and rationale, businesses foster transparency, which can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Incorporating SEO strategies into pricing communications is also vital for small businesses aiming to maximise online visibility. By optimising pricing-related content with relevant keywords like effective marketing strategies for small businesses, businesses can attract organic traffic from potential customers seeking advice on marketing tactics.
Pricing isn’t just about numbers; it’s a strategic marketing tool. Whether it’s aligning prices with perceived value, outmaneuvering competitors, or leveraging psychology, smart pricing strategies can drive business growth and enhance marketing effectiveness for small businesses.
Why is setting the price of a product/service one of the most vital management decisions?
- Price is the only component that affects profits rather than costs (which affect product, place and promotion of the marketing mix). Price is the element that makes or breaks a business.
- Modifying the price has a great impact on the marketing strategy. Depending on the price elasticity of a certain good, it often affects the demand and sales also.
- Price plays a significant role as a competitive weapon to assist a business in utilising market opportunities.
- Pricing also determines how customers perceive the product. A higher price means higher quality and is associated with luxury. On the other hand, a low price means low-quality products too. Setting a price that is either too high or too low will limit the growth of the business. The worst part is, it could cause major problems for sales and cash flow.
Admittedly, it’s tough to get the pricing right when you don’t have a process to determine customer value. This is because there are a lot of factors to take into consideration as to whether a price change will have the desired effect.
The law of demand says that, for almost all products, the demand is lower if the product is priced higher. That means sales will drop if prices are increased. However, a high price can also mean high margins.
Price can lead to a company’s survival or downfall. Therefore, a business must set the right price and do the heavy lifting to work out what their customer really value about their products.
Effective Value Communication in Small Business Marketing Strategies
When it comes to effective marketing strategies for small businesses, value communication plays a pivotal role. It’s not just about offering a product or service; it’s about articulating its value proposition to potential customers in a compelling manner.
Firstly, businesses must clearly identify and understand the unique value they offer to customers. This could be anything from high-quality products to exceptional customer service. For instance, a small bakery might emphasise the freshness of its ingredients and the artisanal craftsmanship behind each pastry.
Once the value proposition is established, businesses need to effectively communicate it to their target audience. This involves crafting messaging that resonates with customers’ needs and desires. For example, a landscaping company might highlight how its services can transform a dull backyard into a vibrant outdoor oasis where families can create lasting memories.
Using various marketing channels, such as social media, email newsletters, and website content, allows businesses to reach and engage with their audience effectively. Consistent messaging across these channels reinforces the value proposition and strengthens brand identity.
Moreover, businesses can leverage customer testimonials and reviews as powerful tools for value communication. Positive feedback from satisfied customers serves as social proof, validating the perceived value of the product or service in the eyes of potential buyers.
Integrating SEO strategies into value communication efforts is essential for small businesses looking to enhance their online visibility. By optimising website content with relevant keywords like effective marketing strategies for small businesses, businesses can attract organic traffic from individuals seeking information on how to improve their marketing tactics.
Effective value communication is essential for small businesses to stand out in competitive markets. By clearly articulating their unique value proposition and leveraging various marketing channels, businesses can effectively connect with their target audience and drive sales growth.
Impact of Pricing on Effective Marketing Strategies For A Small Business
What is the impact of price on small business marketing? Let’s take a closer look. The two ways that pricing affects business and marketing performance are:
1. Marketing budget
The price of a product is a determining factor of how much profit the product will generate. Having a high profit means having more money to market a product. On the other hand, low profit means less money in marketing the product.
2. Marketing efficiency
The probability that customers will buy your product is higher when you are priced a bit lower than your rivals. Thus, it gives the business a sign of effective marketing.
However, there’s a clear challenge if having high prices create a larger marketing budget. And low prices increase the efficiency of marketing campaigns. The dilemma of the business is finding the right price that is ideal for both the marketing budget and efficiency.
It even gets more complex when you think that this balance is not the same for every product on the market. The reason is customers don’t value items the same way and react to price changes accordingly.
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Bottom Line
- It is really important for small businesses to invest more time and effort in their product pricing to have effective marketing strategies for small businesses. That is, to avoid a drop in sales or market share.
- How does price relate to marketing for a small business then? Price is significant to small business marketing because it provides business owners with a tangible number of how much customers are willing to pay now and a view to the future too, i.e., how much more or less they would pay in the future based on changing market conditions and economics.
- Increasing or decreasing the price has a deep impact on a small business’ marketing strategy. In terms of demand and sales, as well as price elasticity of the product/service. Setting a price for its products/services is one of the most significant decisions that a business will make. But having low-priced products is not usually a strong position for small businesses. Pricing too high or too low sets the customer’s expectations.
For a comprehensive view of ensuring the continuous growth of your business, Download a complimentary brochure on How To Drive Pricing Strategy To Accelerate Sales & EBIT Growth.
Are you a small or medium-sized business in need of help aligning your pricing strategy, people and operations to deliver an immediate impact on profit?
If so, please call (+61) 2 8607 7001.
You can also email us at team@valueculture.com if you have any further questions.
