I’m often approached by businesses who believing social media is the main way to solve the problem. However, a far more effective way to increase your visibility and reach your target audience is through an integrated marketing strategy.

An integrated marketing strategy involves using a combination of both digital and traditional marketing channels to promote your business and reach your target audience.

Firstly, an integrated marketing strategy allows you to reach a wider audience. By using a combination of both digital and traditional marketing channels, you can target potential customers in multiple ways. For example, you can use social media and email marketing to reach customers online, while also using print advertising and events to reach customers in your local area.

One of my clients is The White House Preparatory School, through introducing them to local event organisers the school has been able to raise awareness through being involved in local events, complementing their digital marketing activities. I also work with a local performing arts school, Junction Theatre Academy, who have advertised in a free local family magazine, which is a cost effective way to reach their target audience, again complementing their digital marketing activities.

An integrated marketing strategy helps to build brand recognition and consistency to your target audience, as they come across your brand in different places. By using consistent messaging and branding across all marketing channels, you can create a cohesive and recognisable brand identity. This helps to build trust and familiarity with your target audience, making it more likely that they will remember your business and choose to do business with you.

Another important benefit of an integrated marketing strategy is that it allows you to track your marketing efforts and measure your ROI. By using different marketing channels, you can track the effectiveness of each channel and adjust your strategy accordingly. This allows you to see which channels are driving the most traffic and conversions, and make data-driven decisions about where to focus your marketing efforts.

Additionally, an integrated marketing strategy helps to create a more engaging and memorable experience for your target audience. By using a variety of marketing channels, you can provide a more diverse and engaging experience for your audience. For example, as with Junction Theatre Academy, we use social media to share behind-the-scenes glimpses of their business and raise awareness of classes, while also using local print to showcase the classes in more detail. This creates a more immersive and memorable experience for their target audience, making it more likely that they will remember and engage with the business.

An integrated marketing strategy is essential for small local businesses that want to stand out in a crowded marketplace. By using a combination of both digital and traditional marketing channels, you can increase your reach, build brand recognition, track your marketing efforts, and create a more engaging experience for your target audience.

Get in touch with freelance marketer Tina Newport at Beyond Horizons Digital, to find out how I can help grow your business with an integrated marketing approach.

If you’re not already using an integrated marketing strategy for your business, it’s time to start!