What is marketing?

Marketing is any activity that involves developing, promoting, and selling your products and services.

It covers advertising, promotions, customer service, and public relations.
 
Marketing is essential to the success of any new business.
 
You may have ground-breaking products or innovative services but if people don’t know your business exists, you’ll never make enough sales.
 
Marketing puts your products or services in front of potential customers.
 
Done well, it raises awareness of your brand, gives people a reason to buy, and results in sales.
 
Done badly, it can become a bottomless money pit.
 
Learn more about marketing on a budget with our handy guide.

Why market your business?

1. Promotes your company

Effective marketing helps establish your brand, putting your products and services in front of customers who are willing to buy.

2. Boosts sales

Once your brand is visible, marketing can help increase sales to existing customers and increase new customer numbers.

3. Retain customers

Marketing helps create a base of loyal customers.

With repeat business often cheaper than winning brand-new customers, it’s essential to retain and engage existing customers.

4. Compete and grow

Good marketing can help you compete with larger, more established brands, allowing your small business to grow and expand.

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Disclaimer: The Start -Up Loans Company makes reasonable efforts to keep the content of this article up to date, but we do not guarantee or warrant (implied or otherwise) that it is current, accurate or complete. This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind, including legal, financial, tax or other professional advice. You should always seek professional or specialist advice or support before doing anything on the basis of the content of this article.

The Start-Up Loans Company is not liable for any loss or damage (foreseeable or not) that may come from relying on this article, whether as result of our negligence, breach of contract or otherwise. “Loss” includes (but is not limited to) any direct, indirect or consequential loss,  loss of income, revenue, benefits,  profits, opportunity, anticipated savings, data. We do not exclude liability for any liability which cannot be excluded or limited under English law. Reference to any person, organisation, business or event does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation from The Start-Up Loans Company, its parent company British Business Bank plc, or the UK Government. 

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