Marketing Your New Business – Tips for Entrepreneurship-Minded Seniors

Thanks to guest contributor, Marcus Lansky, for this article:

Many of us choose to start businesses after retirement as a way to keep our minds and bodies active. But, this can cause stress, especially in areas that we did not master during our years in the workforce.

Marketing is one of these. But, it is never too late to learn. Today, we have compiled a list of marketing tricks you can use to grow your new business from startup to success.

Network

Just as retirement is the time that you need to network with friends and family for your mental health, reaching out to former colleagues, the community, and even online groups can help you build a network for your business. Don’t forget to keep a few business cards on you at all times so that you can pass them out when an opportunity arises.

Refine Your Skills

Obviously, you’re ready to relax, and you don’t want to take on more than you can handle now that you’re retired. But, if you’re interested in learning more about strategic planning, marketing, accounting, and statistics, earning your MBA now can help you boost your business. Plus, you can go to class online, so you can still focus on your business, travel, and, most importantly, the grandkids!

Get To Know Your Customers

No matter what kind of business you run, you have to get to know your market. To do this, figure out what characteristics your customers might have and the problems that they need solved. You can also reach out to your current customers and study their habits so that you best know how, why, and when they shop. Another smart idea: look at your competitors’ social media to see who’s interacting with them.

Jump Headfirst Into Social Media

Speaking of social media, you’ll also want to prioritize your own social media marketing efforts. Fortunately, although this might be a bit overwhelming, you don’t have to go through the process of posting to all of your accounts separately. Some social media sites, such as Instagram and Facebook, allow you to post on one and have it show up on both. Instagram’s tutorial shows you how.

Maintain Consistency Throughout Your Brand

Any time you run a business, it becomes a brand. That brand must be consistent across every platform where you choose to have a presence. This even goes for how you invoice customers. Fortunately, the Internet makes it really easy to find invoicing templates that you can customize with your branding materials. If you use the right invoice generator, you can use your template in your invoicing system.

Something important to remember here is that your invoice should be delivered quickly, which Instapage asserts will keep you in your customers’ minds and help you get paid ASAP.

Get Help

If you’re completely uncomfortable with marketing, don’t be shy about getting help. Remember, there is a lot to learn, especially if you’ve never marketed online before. If you choose to outsource, plan your budget accordingly. Even a simple website can cost $15,000 or more if you use an agency.

Working for yourself during your retirement years is an excellent way to stay active while also keeping your income intact. It’s a time when you get to utilize your skills and pursue your passions. But you have to know how to market yourself and your products. The above advice can help, but, just remember, there are many different avenues you can take in the world of marketing, and it may take time to find the ones that work for you.

Marcus Lansky is a graphic design business owner who started Abilitator, a website that helps other people with disabilities start their own businesses.